Creative Decision and Experimentation | Update # 26

Continuing what I said in the previous blog, I was not satisfied with the colour palette and over all look of the feel. It all felt bland. I watched a lot of films after and realized that small details were making a big impact like for example; scratches on the wall of table, cracks, dust added a lot of depth and character to the backgrounds. If you were to take early Chuck Jones Cartoons, Max Flesicher Superman series or even Alfred Hitchock films you will realize that the backgrounds/architecture was a living character in itself. They did not just add a gradient or camera lens blur in the back and call it a day instead they worked more on the environment than the characters and I wanted to do that as well. I was the environment to be its own unique entity, be believable for the audience and they get transported here. Observation is the key my friend and you should look around to see how colours bounce of each other how dust particles (even though invisible to the naked eye) give a lot of depth.

So like every other student I consulted my Art teacher and she recommended me book a called “Dream Worlds: Production Design for Animation: Production Design in Animation”.

The book delves deep into the role of production design in animation, emphasizing the significance of creating visually compelling and thematically relevant environments that enhance the storytelling process. Bacher’s expertise and insights are particularly valuable as he breaks down the process of designing backgrounds, illustrating how various elements such as color, composition, perspective, and lighting contribute to the overall emotional impact of a scene.

One of the standout features of “Dream Worlds” is its emphasis on the integration of various artistic disciplines. Bacher showcases how concepts from architecture, fine art, and cinematography can be seamlessly combined to craft visually stunning backgrounds that resonate with audiences. This interdisciplinary approach encourages readers to broaden their creative horizons and draw inspiration from diverse sources.

The book did help a lot in terms of personal growth and improvement, which led to a significant enhancement in my background design skills. After a lot of hit and trial I have the perfect background (which I quite happy with)and I believe it compliments the character designs as well. It gives of early cartoon network vibes.