My animation has undergone a considerably large transformation; its original concept heavily inspired by an attraction within Disneyland park in Paris. My motivation stemmed from personal interest alone, however, such a complex project was too ambitious to broach and I decided to create a more stereotypical story such as deforestation and climate change based on sustainability. I think it sends a good message, and my idea was based on the story from Ferngully: The Last Rainforest.

I had several ideas for the art-style I would select, but one in particular stood out to me. Rachel Smythe’s work from webtoon comic, Lore Olympus influenced how I drew my characters and backgrounds. I also referenced the concept art for James Cameron’s Avatar to create big elaborate forests and nature. I did most of my experimentation digitally because I believed it to be faster. The software I used is called, Procreate. It is a fairly new software exclusive to apple products and I will continue to use it for future projects.

Because my animation is a silent film, it is much harder to convey emotion. I invoked emotion primarily through visuals. Though my choice of music also contributed to the narrative. As for my character designs, each one is a solid colour. These colours are a reflection of what defines them and their role in the story. This was another idea strongly influenced by Smythe’s work. During the animation process, I ran into a few problems. Initially, I planned to animate on my laptop; unfortunately, it broke due to unknown causes which forced me to purchase something feasible in accordance to my budget. I purchased an ipad that later cracked, making it very difficult to draw. I could only resolve this.

This project has given me a better understanding of the work and patience that goes into creating an animation. In the future I will be more inclined to plan and prepare for my animation ahead of time. Time management is key.