Yes it's official, Al Pasheepo & Gang has become my next film project and will be my first since Graduation. For those who have followed my Blog for some time will know that this was originally supposed to be the Sting entry for the British Animation Awards (BAA). I'm really sad to confirm that due to personal problems I missed the deadline. However, I've decided to continue making this anyway and (as plan B) enter it into a new competition. Thankfully I've found the new comp which involves making a 90 second film and the final deadline for this entry is July. It may seem like a long time but trust me, for a lone Animator such as myself it's really not that long. Since I really want to avoid making the same mistakes as I've done with BAA, I've had to think very carefully of what to do to succeed and make the final deadline this time. After much thought and consideration I have made a very difficult decision to once again put GANTO:Renaissance on hold. While it is still my ultimate aim to re-make GANTO later on this year, however, Al Pasheepo for now has become my main priority. The Salvador's House Party Illustration/Art will also be taking a back seat for the time being.
So without further ado here's latest the Concept Art I've completed so far featuring both original and new characters (some may need re-designing/simplifying)...
Starting with the originals. First up are our main protagonists Al Pasheepo and his wife Al Sheeprina, the King & Queen of Sheeps. Romantically huddled together yet still calm, serious and tough enough to prepare for battle, clearly these two lovers are the type of Sheeps you really wouldn't want to mess with...
More originals, here are our main antagonists Werelvis and his wife Maiyundonna, the King & Queen of Wolves. Due to their high levels of arrogance, these two self-absorbed, materialistic thuggish snobs genuinely believe nothing can ever defeat them and their intimidating ways. Well, looks like their luck is about too change...
And now introducing you all to the new characters for the first time, meet the Sheores! As every Kingdom needs to have a Horse, the Kingdom of Sheep has their own version known as the Sheores. Sheores are very gentle and easily frightened creatures. But when the crisis gets tough, their powerful, scared shrieks could prove to be a useful weapon...
The Wolorses are the Horse type creatures found in the Kingdom of Wolves. Of the entire Horse family, the Wolorses are deadly, man eating creatures which will tear you from limb to limb in the matter of seconds! Their favourite food are the Sheores of course but their biggest weaknesses are the Sheores' loud shrieks, they're very sensitive towards all that noise, noise, NOISE...
Sheenoirs, known as the Knights of the Sheep Kingdom. Design wise I personally think this looks fine and doesn't need any tweaking...
Wolucans, known as the Knights of the Wolf Kingdom. Design wise I like it but I might need to tweak this a little bit more to make it more simple to animate, what do you guys think? Any feedback would be very much appreciated...
The Bisheeps, Bishops of the Sheep Kingdom. Again design wise I don't think this really needs any new tweaking, unless you guys think differently? Please don't be shy to let me know what you think...
The Bisholfs, Bishops of the Wolf Kingdom. Design wise I really like this one too but again I think I might also need to simplify this design a little bit more, what do you guys think? Again feedback very much appreciated...
The Sheepbotics, in the role as Pawns of the Sheep Kingdom. Believe or not this is the first time I've ever drawn a Robot! Design wise I think it looks fine to be honest, the only thing I'd probably tweak and simplify are the legs but other than that I really don't think this design needs any changing...
The Wolfbotics, in the role as Pawns of the Wolf Kingdom. This is the second time I have ever drawn a Robot! As much as I love this character design, it is perhaps the most extreme design I've come up with and alas would be way too hard to animate unfortunately. If anyone could come with any better ideas of how to improve this image, please let me know ASAP...
And last but not least here is the World the entire film will be set on, a giant Chessboard. Personally I think this Chessboard design looks so much better than my first attempt. As for the skyline, I originally envisioned it to be entirely pitch black but during my colour experimentations I accidentally came up with this Solar System type skyline and to be honest, I actually like this better. Again this is all still early stages so not sure yet but what do you guys think? Once again constructive criticisms welcomed. :)
Well, that's all for now folks and until next time...
See ya later Navigators! :D
Noor "Red Eye' Mula