Platforms and Hastags

A major point of this project is marketing. To market in this day and age means to hashtag, hashtag, hashtag. Along with the usual fundamentals, of course. The more posts and hashtags around Haru, the better, especially  since she is not attached to a particular product (like a video game) or recognizable franchise (just yet). Part of my research includes finding a hosting site or sites, to upload my accompanying webcomic.

I am familiar with a couple of hosting sites outside of facebook, twitter and instagram. They include tumblr, and two specific webcomic sites: Line Webtoon and Smackjeeves. The latter and I go a long way back; Smackjeeves was my first introduction to webcomics. And while I have grown up quite about, I can’t say that I’ve visited Smackjeeves in quite some time. Looking at the site seriously today, it appears adequate enough. It’s updated to include forums and author profile features. What really gets me about SmackJeeves is, well, the content. A lot of the works on there are either huge fandom works (like Pokemon), very amateur-ish or flat out abandoned. Now, there’s nothing wrong with anyone being an amateur— I too am an amateur, but I’m also trying to improve and be professional. It’s hard to see that in the content on Smackjeeves. There are really good works on the site, but they have to be sought out. And they just end up moved or abandoned anyway.

Line Webtoon at first glance looks more polished and professional. I can’t explain why really but the content on there strikes me as creators who are taking their work a little more seriously. In other words, it’s Smackjeeve’s older, color and mature brother.

Not to say that I will not be posting on Smackjeeves, but my first choice is Line Webtoon. I’m also looking at Tumblr as a serious platform again but I have this habit of thinking when I stop using a certain site, I assume EVERYONE else has as well, and of course that’s not true. People are still on Tumblr, despite its reputation but I may be able to use that to my advantage. Tumblr’s interface is friendly enough but it’s webcomic themes are limited. But I am familiar with it and it’s marketing capabilities.

 

Luca vs Haru

 

 

In my last post I discuss the dilemma I was facing in choosing which character to profile in my project this year. It came down to two choices, Haru, and their AU Luca. Well, I’ve finally decided that I would go with Haru.

It makes sense that I choose her. She has everything required for a good mascot and character; a background, a personality, a world in which she exists, and lots of art. Most of my foundation had  been laid, so there was no reason to start from scratch. So from this point on, Haru will be the star of my last semester. I do still like like Luca though.

Although I want to save in depth information regarding Haru for posts further down the line, a little about her now: She 5 ft tall, rogue martial artist who tried to be serious but finds herself in comedic situations.

Haru concept speed paint

 


Drawing Inspirations

In the past few weeks, I’ve narrowed the scope of my final semester’s project. I’ve decided that it will revolve around a single, mascot-esque character. It was inspired primarily by my research into other iconic mascot type characters, including Sonic the Hedgehog and the Vocaloids cast. Each franchise has spawned fandoms and fan created content like OCs (original characters), fan-fictions, and cosplays.

So I know where I want to go with my project. But I’m also a little stuck.

At first, I planned on using a character that I created for an original, on-going personal project. She was already well established, on terms of character, background, goals and, most importantly design. Her name’s Haru and I’ve had her since I was 16. My work was half way done! After all, once my project was a success, then my audience, properly introduced to Haru would also invest wholly into my personal project. A win-win.

But I got into my own head and the desire to create an ALL new character specific to this project manifested. Now, I didn’t plan to start completely from scratch; the plan was to use the already existing Haru as a sort of base. Maybe inverse her colors. A kind of Alternate Universe Haru. And since AU’s are a part of the fandom universe, it made perfect sense.

So these two ideas were battling in my head and I got stuck. I might just end up using both characters — who knows (although, at this point I really should know). But below are some existing characters I researched as part of my project thus far.

From Left to right clockwise: Miku Hatsune (Vocaloids), Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog) and Haruhara Haruko (FLCL)

415: Second Time Around

As I embark on my final semester at Penn State Abington, my primary goal this time around is to complete a project in full. Perhaps my past endeavors were marked with ambition that didn’t fit a semester’s time frame. And that’s okay, because personally, those projects were complete. They did the job they were meant to do, for me. However, I understand that outside eyes might not see it that way. It’s why this second time around, I’d like to complete a project that is not only complete, but feels complete as well. It’s my last hurrah.

So here is the official thesis goal for my project, for all the academics out there:

This project aims to explore the complex relationships between narrative, media and communication, specifically between dimensions in apparel and 2d formats. The goal is to understand how these relationships come together to create iconic figures, brands, and communities known as fandoms.

How I plan to execute this, while remains to be seen, will be documented on my blog for one final time. Time to go find other free webspace for after graduation. I should’ve made that a goal as well.

To accompany this thesis, is the semiotic square, not unlike the last time I was in the 415 course. Below is my new square, a sort of visual representation

of my goals for the semester.

Semiotic Square for 415 II

Developing a story and storyboards

(This is just a draft poster, similar to how the movie poster would look)

 

In my process, the story and characters developed around each other. A basic storyline came first, a single sentence — a world renowned jewel theif seeks to redeem herself and finally goes after the one that got away. Then questions like, “what’s the time period?” Or “What’s the fashion fad of that time?” help in building the characters. I get a feel for how they would interact with their world.

Developing this story was not unlike other stories I’ve come up with. I often draw my stories from life and this one has an interesting background. I was doing what I do most weekends — numbing my mind with television — when I came across a cool story with an even cooler lead.

This is Doris Payne. She is a real life jewel thief.

Long story short, Payne lived most of her adult life traveling the world, making off with thousands of dollars worth of jewels that she would steal from the most expensive shops only to sell them to pawn shops. She’s also spent a lot of time in jail for her crimes.

But one of the most interesting legends that came from the life of Doris Payne and the tale that inspired my story, was when she had pulled off a heist in Paris. The heat was hot on her trail and followed her to her hotel room, demanding that she answer their questions about a $500,000 diamong that had went missing. By now, authorities weren’t finally catching up to her but even then she managed to keep her cool, even as Parisian police tore through her luggage. Payne claims that they even demanded that she disrobe, so they could check her dress— her well known hiding spot. Payne abided but the jewel was never found.

Payne had cleverly hid the jewel in her mouth. She even describes how it cut her cheeks as the police searched her person. She left Paris, pawned the diamond and it has never been seen again.

That is where I came up with the title of my mock movie and it’s lead— Diamond Mouth.

Of course my story is more fantastical than the real life dramas of Doris Payne, but choosing her as inspiration has really allowed me to explore themes I never had before, one with dealing with an elderly lead. In terms of animation, how do old people walk? How do they talk, how far can they run and jump? What are their interactions with young people, how do they sound. As a younger person  it’s simple for me to imagine how someone like me would deal with all of those things.

More on Doris Payne. Totally real, totally BAMF:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/15/us/doris-payne-arrested-georgia/

Final-ish Products- What did I learn?

Opentoonz– Is it worth the hype?

Yes and no.

The nice thing about Opentoonz is that it’s professional grade software, for free. It’s super customizable, and straightforward.

However, it’s dated. The UI isn’t friendly whatsoever. And apparently, it’s been that way since, well, forever. Professionals who have used before, as much as ten years ago, have said that nothing’s changed. Which isn’t really good. Another thing I didn’t appreciate was the fact that “used by Studio Ghibli” was the selling point but because the software is so customizable, the studio has played with the software to meet their needs. So is this really the same Opentoonz used by an internationally recognized studio? Probably not.

Once again, sound escapes me.