In Progress: Blue Guy & Fly Animated Shorts
- At February 22, 2015
- By Aviva Gittle
- In Animation
0
Blue Guy & Fly is a series of animated shorts based on a script I wrote about a year ago. (Learn more about the project here.) Here I’ll post the latest video. This is the latest cut of the first video from animators Kathputlee Arts & Films. Now we are starting to get closer to the final product. The animator still needs to animate the character’s mouths, add music and fx (sound effects), and opening / closing credits.
Because the animation wasn’t done when the VO was completed a year ago, I was given what they call the “raw” files. These are the unedited sound files of the actor’s voiceover. Often, there are multiple takes of the same line. Sharad and his team from Kathputlee Arts & Films, selected most of the VO for Act I. I agreed with their choice in some cases, but there were a few that I wanted them to change. For example, I preferred the first take of one of Blue’s lines, “That’s why it’s called painting class, fly.”
Another important consideration is the timing between sentences. Remember, all the voices, every line, is separated. The pieces have to be put together and synced with the animation. Sometimes, characters are saying lines right no top of each other. Other times, you want a dramatic pause of three beats (1…2…3…say the next line).
I’ve given a list of changes to the animator. Next, he’ll provide a video that (hopefully) incorporates all those changes, and the other missing pieces (animating the mouths, music, fx, etc.)
Are you an animator? Would love to hear your comments!
*****Previous versions of Blue Guy & Fly*****
This is a VERY rough cut of the first video from animators Kathputlee Arts & Films.You can see generally where the story is going, but the voiceover (VO) is not in sync yet with the animation. And, the characters’ mouths and limbs are not yet animated. Also, there are no sound effects (fx) yet or music yet.
First Glimpse: Blue Guy & Fly
Blue Guy and Fly is a script I wrote about a year ago. It’s the adventures of two close friends: Fly who, oddly, is a fly. And Blue Guy (called “Blue” for short) who is a character with no arms, but an awesome tail. He, oddly, is blue. And furry. Not at all like Cookie Monster. Think surfers in the city. Who get around on a skateboard. (See the latest version of the cartoon.)
It was always my intent for this to be a cartoon. I tried to write it as a “regular” story that I would publish like all my other books. Couldn’t do it. I kept seeing (and hearing) them as cartoon characters in a YouTube video.
The artist who illustrated the story was also going to animate it. I got as far as the VO (voiceover), but the artist, Jean Paul Iragorri, took on a new job and just didn’t have the time.
Finally, I hired an animator on oDesk.com. As always, I’m on a tight budget. The animator, Kathputlee Arts & Films, is working with a limited number of illustrations. Above are the initial test animations for the characters. I’ve asked for more movement of the arms of all the characters, including the people walking on the street. But, again, tight budget. So, we’re not talking Pixar here.
The process will take a few months. Ultimately, we will have three 2-3 minute videos. (The script is in three acts.)
Would love to hear your comments. I’ll be posting more “glimpses” of the project as we go along.
