Disney Character Design

My tutors arn't keen on this Disney brief as they feel its out of our depth and animation students who have been on 3year courses will be gunning for this one, but I can't help but have a dabble in it as this brief sums up my dream job. Create a Disney character with Heart, Courage and optimism for a narrative driven Comedy Cartoon. Amazing. I have ideas floating about in my head for this one so i'm still going to give it some thought and make some storyboards and create a character with some heart. I can't help it.

Big Issue 'Business Man' Idea

For the 'Business Man' idea I wanted to make a film that would be a complete role reversal showing a business man in a suit holding a stack of big issues selling them to people. The customers wouldn't react any differently to this man (or should they? I haven't decided) If they didn't react differently because he was in a suit would there be a point to the film? They need to react differently, The man in the suit need to be getting approached more by customers because of the way he is dressed, he is dressed smarter and therefor customers are more likely to buy off him, meaning he will sell more. I would in some way have to contrast this man with a regular Big Issue Seller to gain the full effect. I'll get my thinking cap on.

I like this idea for what it can show and the message it will bring across, because of stereotypes and the way somebody looks can determine alot. This idea needs more time and research.

Big Issue 'Stereotype' Idea

My idea 'Stereotype' is to take peoples Stereotypes of a Big Issue Salesperson to an extreme height and make it look pathetic that people would ever think that of these magazine selling folk.

Picture an addict sat on the floor much like the pictures above (the "You homeless crackhead" isn't my writing but she represents the person i wanted to portray so i've included the picture, maybe a little bit funny though) Shooting needles, filthy, unwashed, bad fashion, unhealthy, underweight, no teeth, pale, messy hair, withdrawn, aged. I want this fiend on the floor to then be holding a stack of big issues trying to sell them to people, being rude and slightly aggressive as they say "Buy One!" to passers by. Then I'm wondering what to finish with, maybe a shot of an actual Big Issue Seller, at work on a normal street trading with customers, and a catchy tagline which I can't currently think of as its getting late.

Big Issue Brief

The Big Issue Brief was appealing to me, the information given in the brief itself opened my eyes to these people and the work they do. The briefs aim is to change peoples perspective of Big Issue Sales People and abolish popular misconceptions on them. Big Issue Sales People are often thought of as tramps, homeless, drug users and abusers when really one of the main reasons is coming from a broken home and things just spiraled beyond control from there. These salespeople should be thought of as business people as its a small business they are running, it involves, spending, saving, profit, loss etc. In my eyes this brief wants me to change the negative stereotypes surrounding The Big Issue whilst trying to motivate more people to buy this magazine. Next come my ideas.

Sonic 'Hair Salon' Brief

I thought about this idea from looking at my research of Sonic and his funky hair style. I was thinking of a typical hair salon/barbershop and how they have hair magazines for you to browse through to find a hair style you think you might want for yourself, but instead of a hair magazine being picked up, a gaming magazine featuring sonic is picked up instead and Sonics hair style is chosen, we then see a hair stylist going crazy with the scissors, hair dye, blue hair flying everywhere. Then a typical shot of the stylist holding a mirror behind the head of the customer (to show that the hair cut is finished) Big blue Sonic like spikes are revealed by good camera angles and a happy face on the customer. The customer then walks out of the Barbers with people seeing this guys radical Sonic cut and crowds rush into the Barbers to get the same Hair Style. A tagline something like 'Sonic Fever', '20 YEARS AND SONICS STILL IN STYLE'... (Needs work).

I love this idea as its quirky, new, fresh, unobvious and completely Sonic. Sonics Hair is iconic and an instant relation to him, Its taking Sonic down to his sympolist form. (Idea: when the hairs being cut with scissors i could have the ring sounds with each snip)

I like this idea but how to do it??

Sonic 'Alex Kidd Fight' Idea

I've always been a fan of Alex Kidd which was a game that came built in to old SEGA consoles. My idea was like a street fighter type fight of the console mascots, SONIC VS ALEX KIDD, the scene would be set like the street fighter picture above ^^^. "Round One, Fight" True Street Fighter style to appeal to the gamer lovers that will be watching, Sonic and Alex Kidd will then have a fight, punching, kicking, power bombing, shooting rockets etc with the health bars going down accordingly until its neck and neck and Sonic can win in a climax ending and saying something like "I'M SEGAS MASCOT BITCH!" or "NEVER SEND A KIDD TO DO A HEDGEHOGS JOB!"

A fun idea appealing to gamers and SEGA fans, as well as an entertaining fight scene this could turn out to be a nice piece of work if done properly, again i will draw up some storyboards to see how it will run. Might not see the true look of this until the animatic if I take this idea that far.

Sonic 'Hedgehog' Idea

This was an idea to have an animation of normal hedgehog sniffing around the SEGA logo, Ill set the scene, '20 Years Ago' appears onscreen, fades out to a white background with the Blue SEGA logo, a real animation hedgehog comes sniffing around the sign and attempting to climb it, when suddenly .... BANG! The hedgehog gets sucked rapidly into the SEGA logo, there are a few noises and blue lightning blots flashing before the SEGA sign explodes with flying rings in every direction followed by Sonic landing on his arse in front of the camera, close up, cheeky wink and a 'Happy 20th Anniversary' banner appears onscreen.

I'm happy with this idea as it gives the impression of how the idea was created, SEGA took the hedgehog and turned him into Sonic and 20years later he is still around on our gaming consoles having survived console changes, technology development and graphic improvements.

I'll draw up some story boards for this idea and run it past my tutors to see what they think.

Sonic 'Generation' Idea

This idea I had was one of my earlier ones, I thought of Sonic the Hedgehog in his 1st ever graphics stood on top of the year 1991 (The year in which he was 1st created) With a 2-D layout there would be the year 1992 then 1993 and so on. Sonic would begin running left to right along these years jumping to the next and as he jumps onto the year when his graphics upgrade he would change, until he got to the year 2011, he would look at his most perfect graphically and to end I was thinking a freeze frame, Sonic winking at the camera before zooming off and rings exploding.

The numbers of the years could be represented by different fonts to emphasise the years sonic is running along even more so, I would have to do my research on when Sonics graphics improved and in which year this was. Making it move wouldn't be the hardest task in the world as I've already downloaded every sonic movement in existance from this site I found which was useful.

I like this idea but I can't help thinking everybody else will have a similar one.

Sonic Brief

One of the briefs on YCNs Student website that strangled my attention was Celebrating SEGAs Sonic The Hedgehog Characters 20th Anniversary. I grew up on Sonic on the SEGA Master System along with Alex Kidd, Golden Axe and Streets of Rage. These games and their 8 - 16 bit graphics wern't realistic or amazing like nowerdays but, my god they were addictive. I think a lot of the entries into this catorgory will contain the old sonic graphic character and that cheesey music and game sounds. I want an idea that runs with this concept but shatters it into pieces in its execution and delivery.

I want an idea that captures Sonic through the ages and also celebrates 20 years of him but an idea that is just a bit, wtf?? I am debating humour in my message to reflect myself and this fun loving character.

To the Sketchbook...

Sonic History 15 Years (2006)

http://uk.gamespot.com/ps3/action/sonicthehedgehog/video/6153169/the-history-of-sonic-the-hedgehog?nonRedirectElement=1

This is a link to a website displaying a video for Sonics 15th Anniversary 5 years ago. Its very interesting and informative. 5years later sonic has appeared on a few more platforms and established his name as video gamers most popular character. He will continue I am sure to develop on gaming systems and always appeal to kids, adults, gamers and retro lovers alike.

I need to think of the best way to celebrate this Hedgehogs 20th Anniversary, I need a solid idea that i'snt obvious or already been done. I want a Unique competition winning idea. Hmmmm...

David Earl Dixon

http://www.myspace.com/davidearldixon

British artist David Earl Dixon lives in colchester, where he runs a skateboard company and works as a reelance artist and illustrator. Curious characters, fantasy worlds, and the interactions between humans and animals permeate his artworks. He also brings his world of characters to the street. "Sketching helps exercise the demons!" he says. "No the truth it's just a good space to let ideas flow as freely as possible. In fact most of the time it's the stuff that to me looks the best. It has that creative spontaneity, that unsure yet somehow confidant set of strokes or lines, which is often impossible to recreate, or pursue. Its a momentary thing... the first furtive ramblings of ideas and thoughts."

Danny Danky

http://www.theroyalgrotto.blogspot.com/

http://soundcloud.com/danky

This is a mate of mine who is an illustrator he has some great designs having flicked through his sketchbooks and he also makes beats, mainly dubstep, check them out at the link above. Hes a good guy and is onboard with ideas I have for my clothing line expressing an interest out of his comfort zones. I will be forced to collaborate with him on a project at some point. Good luck to him on his course this September.

North Korea

Right, North Korea. I don't know much about this place but i've watched my share of documentries and I cannot believe what is going on there. It looks like post war Britain, the people live in poverty and fear. The whole county has one opinion, that of Kim Jong-il. There are no cars on the roads, no one goes in or comes out. The world was surprized to see them at this years FIFA World Cup, the country let a few fans go, no media we're allowed to talk to them. I think its disgraceful and something needs to be done and quickly, these people have been brainwashed to thinking Japan, South Korea and America are their bitter enemies. The government controls the media, the money and just about everything else.

I would love to link a future project to this country and their situation, maybe i'll have more to say and a better opinion on whats going on.

Check out their countries website
www.korea-dpr.com/

Body Pop

I have posted this video because of how this person looks and the crowds reaction to him before he starts dancing and when he steals the show. The slow motion move is crazy i don't know how its done, this man went on to to the car advert to the song singing in the rain, where he was dancing in the street on the pathments and around the lampost. The video speaks for itself, never judge a book by its cover.
Later George Sampson, winner of the 2008 Britains got talent won with his interpretation of this advert.

Worst Rapper

When I first saw this I had to find it online and post it, I like funny videos, I really can't believe some people are blinded by a dream and not realise that some things are just beyond their reach. This fool who is more than English raps in an American accent, straight away he's going wrong, he doesn't have the foggiest idea whats going on. Simon Cowell is ruthless anyway but if you're going to give him the ammunition, expect to get shot. Bottom line, set your dreams within your reality, don't wish something that will never happen, it's just a waste.

iPhone App Idea

I have recently scrapped my car, stupidly, and have been getting the buses a lot and I can't believe how expensive it is to travel even compared to a couple of years ago. A Megarider which entitles you to travel on Stagecoach and Magic Buses for 7 days costs £11.00! Are you joking? for the dream journey that includes tight seating spaces for a 6ft 2 man like myself, scallys showing everyone how loud the music on their phone can go aswell as lighting up a fag. Having to stand up when they are crowded and having to deal with a driver on a power trip that thinks that bit of plastic infront of him is a forcefield to treat you like s***. While my idea doesn't put a stop to all of these I can make a bad situation better. My idea is to have a Megarider App, You heard it here first patent pending. It will cost £8.00, £3.00 less than one should be, It will be all digital scrapping the card, paper, plastic and ink to make each Megarider helping the environment. You simply download the app, buy a Megarider online then the image and real identification codes (yet to be thought) downloads to your phone, so the comutter simply whips out their phone, displays the DigiRider and gets on the bus, for a cheaper price. This can also work for just buying single way tickets, train tickets etc. Dragons Den here I come.

Triangle Manchester

Open City Photography Exhibition:

Open City set up an exhibition using amateur and non photographers, gave them a quick crash course in photography and let them loose on the streets of Manchester armed with a camera. The exhibition was shown in the Triangle shopping center. I went to visit it and see what these budding photographers had done, I was actually pleasently surprised with the pictures I saw and the certain peoples perspectives upon this city. Above are some of my favourites from the exhibition. I really like the picture of the girl in the white sun glasses with her boyfriend looking back at her, you can see his face in the reflection of her glasses, He looks protective of her in a subtle way, walking slightly ahead probably holding her hand, I think it makes a nice picture, could also work in black and white with the contrasts made sharper.

Mode2

www.mode2.org

I found this interview with mode2 online.


Could you introduce yourself and tell us where you're from and where you grew up?

I'm from Mauritius, where I spent the first eight years of my life, then came to London in '76, Paris in '87, then back to London recently.

How did you get into painting graffiti?

I was bored after sitting my 'O' Levels in early summer '84, was hanging out in Covent Garden, where all the hip hop was coming together then, and because I had already been drawing since childhood, I was naturally attracted by this new tool that was the spraycan, and all that you could do with. I had seen Dondi on the Buffalo Gals video outlining a year or more before, and that had also got me hooked. I had always been into writing, for the sake of the beautiful handwriting kind of thing - so there's another reason!

How were the Chrome Angels formed?

Scribla and I hooked up at the Capital Radio Venture Day in Battersea Park, summer '84, and we got painting and drawing together then. Later that summer, we saw Zaki Dee, with the back-piece on his denim jacket, walking up towards Covent Garden tube station, along with Eskimo and Zerox. They were called the Trailblazers, so we joined up with them. It's not until the RapAttack gig at the Shaw Theatre in April '85 that we finally became The Chrome Angelz, when Pride also joined us.

Can you remember any of the funniest moments from that time in your life?

Too many to name, or to put into any real order, as the time, place and circumstance of each puts them on a level of equal importance.

You moved to Paris at the end of the 80s, how did this come about?

I went to work in computer graphics, hung in there for like eight months, got frustrated, laid off, but ended up staying in Paris, as those were really good hip hop years, and it was live over in Paris at the time.

What was the hip hop scene in France like compared to the UK at that time?

People didn't understand the lyrics much, so had not imported some of the more negative stuff that could be heard here and there, but it must be said that crews like Public Enemy did in fact export some of the political issues that they had in the U.S. as far as Paris. Anyone with an identity crisis could fall into the confusion of that, and a few did. Still, we were not affected by the rave scene that was sweeping across the UK, and really thrived off of what to me were the best years of hip hop, when those who were teenies and fans of Sugar Hill Gang or Grandmaster Flash, or Spoonie Gee, Cold Crush and so on, had reached maturity and were defining hip hop their own way, before the record industry stepped in massively. We were mostly into tagging and parties then, that was our lot in life and kept us busy and inspired...

What do you think is most interesting about Paris at the moment, what should people who go over there be checking out?

I only just moved back because there's not much work out there right now, but I guess there IS still much going on. You'd have to wait for stuff to build up again perhaps. Still, for food alone, it's definitely worth the trek, and my list of restaurants is very long indeed! Let's not forget all the small stores that have produce that's so hard to find over in London...

Where are you based right now, and what are you doing at the moment?

I'm back in London and trying to somehow get a grip on all the things that are going on at present. I'm working with Pictures On Walls, where we're pushing stuff from Banksy, Jamie Hewlett etc., and we're preparing for Santa's Ghetto, our annual Xmas art fair, on the first of December. I'm just getting my bearings, letting people know that I'm about, and networking to the maximum...

As someone who is a recognised figure on the world graffiti scene, you must travel quite a lot. Do you think that hip hop will continue to be the dominating global youth cultural movement for years to come?

I think that hip hop and rap have got mixed up, and that rap has actually become the new pop. I think that, unless we manage to get some distance from what we do, and try to define today's equivalent of what we were doing then, rather than simply repeating ourselves, we shall not be the dominating global youth cultural movement as you put it. We shall simply become more and more like the consumers that society and market forces would like to make of us... This is too long a debate to get into over a short answer, but I feel there are bakers, cobblers, and plumbers that may be more hip hop than those out there wearing all the gear. All you need to do is put your craft before you, feel the sense of duty towards your predecessors, and one of responsibility for those who came after you within whatever craft or culture that you're into. Too many out there are just out for self, with very short-term goals attached.

What graffiti and other artists do you rate at the moment? Do you have any recommendations for stuff to look out for?

Ride the trains and buses, and catch what you like... There are many talented people out there, and it would be hard to try and draw up a list, without excluding some people by a slip of the mind, and pissing them off or discouraging them in some way.

Does graffiti have a future?

Only as long as the innovators will remain at its core, and that what they bring is recognized by the rest masses, will it still be breaking ground. If a particular style or direction that someone has brought is not recognized at its just value, we'll all be on the decline... END.

I think mode2s work is unique in many ways, his use of media is fantastic mixing many mediums that artists wouldn't dare. He is evolved grafitti artist at its best.

The Quote Idea

This is my hand drawn quote in the text style of the DO Lectures logo, I am really pleased with how it has turned out, how clear cut it looks in the black and white style fitting in with the websites look. If I choose this idea this is the text I would go for as its origional and personal to the brief.

Sherlock Holmes Credits

This is the end credits for the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes staring Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law. I saw these closing credits after the film and thought the style was brilliant and fitting to the 'Old England' look throughout the film. The way they have gone from live stills to breaking it down to drawings adding layers and tea stained/ old parchment type colours. The music is a huge part and sets the mood well. I would love to explore this technique in a different way, maybe a different colour scheme for a future project.