In total, it took about a month to animate. I had fun making this short because it was simple especially when compared to the rather complex film The Strong Spirit. I want to keep this series simple, so the sets are not going to be so complex. I like the idea that the characters appear to be performing on some kind of stage in front of an audience with a wooden floor and fabric background.
This very simple set design is ideal for a series like this.
I'll also continue to experiment with lighting throughout the series. I want to see how I can get the right atmosphere for future films by using different colors, textures, and so forth. Lighting can really make a difference in a scene. For example, the sequence of the booger monster's birth wouldn't be the same if I didn't use an LED flash light and purple tissue paper to give a cool and other-worldly effect in the scene.
I really wanted to make this scene appear spooky, so I clipped a piece of purple tissue paper in front of my fill light and added an overhead blue light by taping an LED flash light to a rig.
I will continue to have the films run on ones and at 25 fps. I feel this is the best way I can express myself in animation. I believe keeping the movement of my characters fluid and smooth gives added value to the film all together. However, I also don't mind if some of it ends up jerky. Sometimes, I really like my animation when it pops in front of the viewer's eyes. It gives a sense of spontaneity which helps keep the the attention of the audience.
The length of these shorts will remain at five minutes or less. I don't want to spend so much time on an idea that can be simplified in this time line. I spent about a year and a half working on The Strong Spirit. While I enjoyed producing the sixteen minute film, I felt I was robbing myself of expressing a more variety of ideas by sticking to a longer and more complex story. With three five minute films made in the same amount of time, I could have expressed more ideas because each one would have its own story. That's partly the purpose of this Mr. Weebee series. I want to express some of the random ideas that jumble around in my head, but I want to do it with returning characters.
For example, I had this random idea of having a monster glowing from the inside.
This fall, I will post more details for the next short. Everything is going to be planned out before my three week Christmas vacation. During those three weeks, I plan to complete all of the animation. When I return to college for the spring semester, I'll do the editing. Hopefully this next adventure will be completed before February of 2014. Let's see what God allows to happen.
Thanks for reading and may God bless you!
