BLOG 5
Inspired by an old idea
or:
Why my eyes were bigger than my belly when it came to my first attempt at a short film.
When 2016 began I continued animating the original Bitz puppet for a few weeks, learning as I went along. I had done all I could with this first attempt at experimental puppet building so, alongside these animations, I started building a new puppet. I initially aimed to make some short test clips with my new puppet, then ultimately make two additional characters, sets and props for an ambitious/naive attempt at a short 5min film.
This film idea was based on an old children’s book I had co-created with friend Sally Jones (then Hutchinson) back in university in 1999 called ‘Hairwoof!’. Sally wrote it and I illustrated it. We then reworked it in 2001. Then I reworked it again in 2007…. When I needed a film idea I thought ‘Why not rework Hairwoof into a film?!’
A Hairwoof is a misunderstood beast. Physically he is like a werewolf or a hybrid of human and wolf, but he is always in hairwoof form. The story stars the main character, a little girl, and a toy lion and takes place on a stormy night in a house, in the sky and in a woodland.
Read text only Hairwoof story by Sally-Anne Jones here
2007’s Hairwoof Illustrations.
I used my previous illustrations as a loose starting point but I wanted the Hairwoof puppet design process to have a similar approach to the Bitz project, so I played around with restricted materials (wood, beads, wool and a little tinfoil). I tried to find how the required functionality and form could work together and used what I had learnt when animating the original Bitz to design this, my 2nd puppet. For example;
Hairwoof(HW) was light(ish) = Bitz was very heavy.
HW had a solid base = Bitz had a spine with loads of weak points
HW could walk on all fours = I could use and develop what I’d learnt about dog movement
HW could also walk upright and had hands, so I could learn to animate these human features for use in future projects
Like all my puppets, the Hairwoof was an experimental prototype but I was happy with it. I liked how the design had a toy-like quality and the simple mechanisms allowed for the movements and expressions it would need, i.e; changing from upright to all fours, dexterous hands and fingers, sniffing nose, a range of ear movement, eye lids, etc. I also asked my Mum to knit me a little teddy-bear shape (a toy lion is part of the story) to which I added an armature inside. I boldly took my new puppet forward and started testing him, thinking about sets and props as I went along.
I knew quite early on in this process that the film idea for Hairwoof was waaaayyyyyyy too big - it had too many sets, too many characters and too many effects. It would take too much time, space and money even if I was experienced enough, which I wasn’t. The idea was way beyond me with my novice abilities, full time job, freelance illustration work and my little home workshop/boxroom. I made a few fun test animations with Hairwoof, trying out the puppet with different props, and different movements and learning some new skills and techniques to take forward. Just like the Bitz project, I tried to make these tests into actual ‘content’ for my social media, so I made them into animation loops, adding music, text and voice overs (by my nephew). I’m glad Hairwoof lived, and who knows, maybe I will rework the Hairwoof project again in the future.
So, while I made the last Hairwoof animation clips I began to plan a new puppet and a new story, one that was achievable with one set and one puppet. I wanted to use what I learnt making the Hairwoof, but I wanted to use a new ‘gimmick’ for this new project, again using unique restricted materials - I’ll cover this in my next blog when I’ll talk about beginning my 2016 film ‘Paper Airman’. I’ll also look back on an exhibition of my work and an amazing invite to visit a professional animation workshop and film studio…
Thanks for reading!
James
*Model Making* Soooooo….. I got distracted the other day and began designing a mini Whibbit… I am designing it as a 3 inch model- not a puppet to be animated with (yet). The idea is that I could make a silicone mould and cast it in resin. This mini ‘toy’ could be a future product, at a low-ish price range. The design is still very much ‘in-progress’ but I have put it to one side as I’m too busy atm, but I will return to it after the Mory animation. I am currently calling this character ‘Itzy’
The in-progress, prototype ‘Itzy model next to The first Whibbit model.
*Film Production* Mory’s film is progressing and I’m nearly ready to start animating, proper. I have practically done all the little effect tests needed, I just need to sort out a lighting effect that is a bit tricky. I feel like I’ve not had time to really focus in on the Mory film as a whole - everything has been so bitty, with so many little elements it doesn’t seem like I’ve made progress. Plus time and focus has been difficult to find but I’m looking forward to having all the pieces in place ready to attack each sequence, tick them off the shot list and feel a sense of progress.
*Mechandise/Fundraising* Thanks to you guys I have sold the 20 Connie badges needed to put it into production. I need to do a bit of back-and-forth with the badge company to finalise the design but I expect the badges to be with you at the start of February latest. There will be 5 left on sale on the shop, after which I will take them off sale until I make a film with the Connie puppet. These badges plus my other products are all available on my shop page.