The Story of Pines

Hey everyone! Here is a long - overdue post. Early last year I was lucky enough to get to work with some close friends to help realize a story by Alison Sudol (Of the band A Fine Frenzy) into a short animated film. My official credits were Storyboards, Editor, and "Adapted for the screen by". Basically I worked with Alison & director Musa Brooker (an amazing animator as well) to help condense Alison's 40-page story into a 12-ish minute film, which would be released in conjunction with her new album. So the songs drive the story, the story reflects the music, etc.

This was a unique project because we had to develop Alison's vision, which was very personal and sensitive, into a film. Usually, working in animation, most the projects I work on are silly, wild, violent, comedy-based etc, and although I love those kind of jobs, this was an interesting and challenging change of pace... and actually one of the funnest times I've had working on a project!

The story is about a bird and a tree who befriend one another and help each other on their journey through life. If you have 12 minutes to sit back and soak-in a sweet story, check it out! The film was shot with the unique style of cut-out animation on a down-shooter.



Here is a "making-of" video. There are many more of these, covering different topics, on the "takepart" youtube channel. Thanks to Participant Media for the opportunity to work on this.



Here is some development art I did early on in the production, to help figure out the style and feel of the film.

Underwater

3-word movie review:
PHASE IV
MICROSCOPIC EXISTENTIAL ODYSSEY

Making the Storybots!

Well now that both the Storybot shorts I did for JibJab are up on the grand ol' internet, here's some pictures I took while making the shorts. A little behind the scenes mumbo jumbo.

The desk of a storybotter.

Making the giant robot claw, only seen for a few seconds in the final short.

Early stage of the fatty robot's body.

Designing the Lobster's armature.

Inner workings of a Giraffe head.

Jazz Madness.

Well, that's it for now...

Storybots - the letter Z!

Hey folks, it's been a while, but here's something new I did for JibJab that recently was unleashed onto the internets. Another letter short, this time for the letter "Z". Enjoy!



3 - word movie review
The Naked Prey (1965)
LONELY, WHIRLING, EXOTIC

Storybots - the letter "L"!

Good day to you, internet dwellers!

Here is a video I recently made with JibJab about the letter "L". It's part of their new storybots series. They basically gave me the song, then I storyboarded it, and before i knew it, it was on the internet. Animation is so easy. Enjoy! And stay tuned...

 

3-word movie review:
MARTYRS
PROBING, WHIRLWIND, DAMAGING

The Woods - Development Art

Hey guys, here are some designs and concept art from the show I was developing. There is so much more than what is here, but this should wet yer tongue a bit.

The show is about this kid named Boyo, who is lost in the Woods. He doesn't know how he got there, he can't get out, and he's mostly accepted this. Boyo befriends a talking Bush with legs named Cuts. Together, they are continually stuck between wars that are going on between different tribes within the Woods. These tribes are the REPS (Strange foofy lizard-creatures whom live in fancy underground tunnels), the WOODSIES (Pretty much any plant, tree, and blade of grass in the Woods) and the BUGS (The bugs are... well, bugs). While these tribes have quarreled on and off for ages, they all share a common enemy... The beyond-psychotic Woodsman. The Woodsman is the same character from my film "I Live in the Woods".

Here's the image I used for the cover of my pitch bible. This is with an earlier design of Boyo.

Here are some drawings of Cuts & Boyo

Here's a Bug puppet I made, but didn't include in the animation test. You can see here how a cartoon drawing can translate into puppet form.

Some other Bugs. These are mostly just random side-characters.

This is Queen Pit, the old-lady lizard-leader of all the REPS.

Here's more REPS.

Here are some of the WOODSIE tribe members.

These are some "rough" color and environment concepts by my very talented friend Romney Caswell.

Well, I hope you enjoyed having a gander at this stuff!

Oh yeah, and don't steel my ideas, or all your friends will leave you. And your pets (If you don't have friends). Thanks!