the Scarlet Letters

Awesome! Here's what I wrote on SMS

"Great work Sven! It was about time you got your hands off armatures and do some animation :)

I really like the story (kinda Alice in Wonderland-ish, or Coraline-ish ;) ) and the character of the dad hehe...love his moves

Too bad the camera exposure or whatever it was got the film a little jumpy (however it's not THAT noticeable, and not bothering at all).

Critics? mmm...obviusly being perfectionist, but: * There were some frames where an 'exit' sign could be seen, and I'd like it to be a little more readeable, but not fully, obviously, as it seems your intention for it to be dark.

*Where does he arrive? It would've rocked if he got to a place where his father was nice or something (ok, too much Neil Gaiman for me :P)

Anyway, greatly executed stopmo, and thanks so much for putting all the gang in the 'thanks' credits.

Keep rockin' Ale "

Sven, you old so-and-so, Congratulations!!!

Here's what I wrote at SMS:

Yep, Loved it crazily. I love that you did it. I love that you did it Quick n' Dirty. I love that you used specific techniques that caught your fancy, like animating the pupils for expression and using garbled lines of dialog. I loved the performances, especially the reaction jump-back the father did when he realized his son had disappeared. And I loved how the ending leaves me wanting another part of the story to be made.

Well done, Sven!

Thanks you both!

@Ale: I imagine Jimmy's arriving in the dining room of the same house. I thought about having a dining table there, but it's probably just as good without -- not to mention, I ran out of time.

If I did have more time (and energy) I think I'd like to have shot a clip of Dad storming right past the painting, before Jimmy opens it up.

Oh -- and by the way: I picked a painting of Saint George vs. the dragon as a tip of the hat to the "sword" component of the challenge. (Also a vestigial foreshadowing from the original storyboard, where Dad cracks open and a worm monster pops out.)

@Shelley: Yay! I wanted to leave folks with the feeling that this was episodic, that there could/should be more episodes.

...Unfortunately, though, Dad's foot shattered during filming. Not that I couldn't fix it, I suppose -- (with Magic Sculpt instead of Super Sculpey this time) -- but it's part of a list of excuses in my head about why I'm not going to follow this up with a sequel.

Main reason, really I suppose, is that there are all sorts of other new things I still want to try. As fun as these two characters are, I don't want to get stuck in their universe just yet.

Heh... I think I'll buck the trend... here's what I'm GOING to post at SMS -

There are of course a few things that lit the red lights of the critic in me.... the conversation goes on for a long time with our not knowing what it's about or getting some other insight into it... it's clear immediately what basic type of convo it is, and with all the time spent on it we don't get any more (except for some very nice animation accompanying it). The flat, one-level tunnel couldn't physically lead from a hole in the floor to a high painting (unless it's one of those Neil Gaiman tunnels!) and no complete resolution of certain issues.... we know escaping will only put off the inevitable confrontation, there's no real end to it.

But all this is kind of beside the point since you're just airing your dirty shorts. Plenty of time in the future to think about these deeper more ephemeral issues on more complete projects. I just wanted to mention them for the same reason I raised similar issues during your storyboard phase.... to get the ball rolling in your head so future projects will be stronger. And now I'll talk about the film you actually made rather than one you could have ;)

I agree with all the positives already made.... great pupil-mation, gesticulation, great fabrication within the limited means involved. A little string-and-latex on wrists and necks would have made it nicer.

What really jumps out at me is the sound design. Nice subtle use of fading etc, not only when the kid enters the tunnel, but even when we cut to closeup on him and dad's voice fades a little. I suppose you were able to work all this out because you did the storyboard and animatic. Something I should try.