Animatic + Previs - BGH: On Vacation

The Big Game Hunter takes a vacation from his usual routine to relax on the beach with his loving recreation of a colonial sand castle - if only he could work out how to deploy his deck chair...

Animatic


Previs



I'm pretty pleased with the way they turned out, managing to fit all my intended elements from my final storyboard within the one minute timeframe.

Initially, I did not intend to put as much detail in the animatic (i.e. number of frames), though I'm glad I did with the final result. I found it viable to do so as the majority of the elements were resolved in my final storyboard making it an easier process to crossover the materials into the animatic. Where the previs was a little more tricky to tackle with the technical aspect, I'm satisfied with the outcome delivering the core foundations of the story across, seeking to only improve the general animation and aesthetics makeup.

Enjoy!

BGH Character Sheet

Some stills of the Big Game Hunter used in the animatic.

Big Game Hunter Concept #04

Most likely the final look for mister Big Game Hunter - proud, pompous, yet ultimately foolish.

Big Game Hunter Concept #03

Updating some of my further progress on the BGH character, refining his silhouette and some defining aspects such as his moustache.




I've tried to emphasise his skinny stature to reflect his gentlemanly, fiery character that can be well animated in his conflict with the deck chair. The moustache will also similarly react accordingly to reflect his given reaction e.g. a drooping moustache for dejection.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback and comments I received while carrying this around earlier today, I feel much more confident in the design and what is needed to take it further. Namely a stronger frame/pose to emphasis his stature, while perhaps returning to the original Pith style helmet (bottom right of heads) for a more iconic design typical of a big game hunter. The wider brim, although pleasing to the general silhouette, may detract from his iconic hunter status. I'm also favouring the bottom left rounded moustache for its more British style, while also granting the opportunity to be well manipulated.

Any more feedback is greatly appreciated while I'll concentrate on some storyboarding.

Big Game Hunter Concepts #02

Here are some sketches I've tried to capture the spirit of the BGH in a more stylised, exaggerated manner. With a more standard yet slightly exaggerated version on the left, and far more stylised 'toonish' adaptations towards the right.


Proud, pompous and well experienced in his art, yet ultimately ready to be ridiculed.

As of yet, I am favouring the bottom right most design as it captures the spirit of the BGH with a more distinctive and readible silhouette. Yet, I am keen to hear your thoughts and feedback as to which design is more headed in the right direction.

Big Game Hunter Concept #01

Some early designs into the BGH character, following the proud, gentlemanly stereotype.




Digital sketches



I've tried to capture some iconic features such as a pithe helmet, a musket blunderbuss type rifle and a well groomed moustache. While I believe these work well in some respects, I think some more attitude could work well in capturing his proud nature while similarly ridiculing him, perhaps by stylising him more in an exaggerated manner.

Big Game Hunter References

Some further reference imagery into big game hunters. I am looking to capture the typical gentlemanly character for the BGH, so he will more than likely be male and of an older generation to reflect this.








Some iconic big game hunters from Looney Toons's Elmer Fudd to Jumanji.

Iconic Moustaches

Some iconic gentlemanly moustaches I'm looking at as reference to capture the character of the Big Game Hunter - proud, pompous yet ultimately ridiculous.

Story Ideas #3

I've been rethinking over my story these past few days as my earlier ideas seem to be somewhat amiss. Its been difficult really as I guess I've tried to push the conceptual side of things too much in contrast to the aims of the brief of a 3 act storytelling. As such, here are some new ideas I'm trying to resolve. Objects are Big Game Hunter, Deck Chair and Castle.

One idea is to have a showdown scenario between the big game hunter and deck chair, using a series of cuts to highlight the characters nuisances for comedic effect e.g. the winkle of a moustache, a twitch of a brow etc. The Good, the Bad, the Ugly serves as a perfect scenario.



Of course, most of this will depend on the embodiment of the character which I'm thinking of a typical gentlemanly stereotype to contrast the absurdity of his confrontation between a deck chair, with the iconic pith helmet and moustache.




Although quite awful to watch, this video captures the typical big game hunter bravado I am thinking of.


Another idea came to mind with some further research, is the big game hunter having devised some sort of elaborate trap, lies in wait in a what is known as a pop up blind.



The shape or form of the popup blind in general could be a mere sand castle to blend into his surroundings of the beach for further comedic appeal. As he waits, a lengthy amount of time passes before the resolution of the final act.

I still have a number of things to resolve namely the final act to bring such a setup to a conclusion, whether the BGH succeeds or how he ultimately and in an absurd way fails to a deck chair. But I thought I get my ideas up now and see what feedback I can get, better here than stuck in my head.

Initial Object Research

To begin with, I felt it would do some good in identifying some key basic principles of the objects first before expanding them into more refined ideas. As such, I've been researching more into my objects, gathering references and the like.

Big Game Hunter

A big-game hunter is a person engaged in hunting for large animals for trophies or game. The pursuit of the major objective might place the hunter at risk of personal harm. Potential big-game sought include, but are not limited to, bears, big cats, boars, elephants, buffalo, kudu, antelope, rhinoceros, hartebeest, moose, elk, and deer. Big game hunters hunt in places such as Argentina, New Zealand, British Columbia, Montana, Ethiopia, Zambia, many parts of the USA and other parts of Africa. The weapons they use include, but are not limited to, rifles, shotguns, crossbows, bow and arrows and some types of handguns.

Deck Chair

A deckchair is a folding chair, usually with a frame of treated wood or artificial material (for protection against the weather) and a fabric or vinyl backrest and seat. It may have an extended seat, meant to be used as a leg rest, whose height may be adjustable. It may also have arm rests.

It is meant for leisure, originally on a big cruise ship's deck, which explains the origin of its name. It is easily transportable and stackable. The classic deckchair can only be locked in one position. Later, the strips of wood going toward the back were lengthened and equipped with supports so that there were several possible sitting positions. A removable footrest can also add to the comfort of the user.

Castle

"Castle" is derived from the Latin word castellum. This is a diminutive of the word castrum, which means "fortified place".

With more ideas and development I will most likely refer to some more reference material at a later point. Until then, I intend to start with getting some ideas down on paper and trying to bring all these objects together into a single direction that will remain captivating in a narrative.