Project 1 Proposal

Concept:
Tale type 510a - Cinderella told through motion graphics.

Narrative Arc:
Although the details of the story of Cinderella vary, each version is recognizable as the same story.  Below is a quote detailing the plot that Cinderella stories share, with some notes on places were variation exists:

"A young woman is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters, forced to work as their servant, and usually called by a name associated with ashes or dirty labor. When the stepsisters and the stepmother are invited to a ball (or leave to attend church), they assign an impossible task to Cinderella to prevent her attendance. Usually animals complete the task for her while she receives beautiful clothes from a fairy godmother or other magical helper. She attends the ball (or church) incognito where the prince falls in love with her. She must leave early before her magical accoutrements disappear or her identity is discovered. The same occurs a second and third time with Cinderella losing a shoe as she runs away the third night. The prince acquires the shoe and declares he will wed the woman it fits. Everyone unsuccessfully tries the shoe, including the stepsisters who mangle their feet trying to make it fit, until Cinderella is finally discovered and compelled to try on the shoe. When it fits, she and the prince are married." - SurLaLune Fairy Tales: History of Cinderella

In a talk on the shape of stories, Kurt Vonnegut graphed out the basic Cinderella story, shown below:

The shape of the Cinderella Story - adapted from Kurt Vonnegut's "The Shape of Stories" talk.

The narrative arc I am proposing will stay fairly close to the German variation on Cinderella.  The story will begin with introducing Cinderella's family situation, the middle will consist of her visit to the ball, and the story will climax with the search for the woman who fits the shoe.

Technique:
The animation will be created in a pixel style.  Pixel style graphics are associated with the early days of computer and video games when the technology could only support extremely low resolution images.  Although the technological limitation has been lifted, pixel styles persist in part due to the nostalgic appeal of pixelated images.  Because contemporary pixel artists do not have the same technical limits as they did in the past, pixel art has changed, and can be combined with other styles as in Superbrothers' Sword and Sworcery EP.

Part of the appeal of fairy tales is also based in nostalgia.  However, when a fairy tale is re-told it is inevitably changed to appeal to contemporary audiences.  The story may be based in the past, but it is also of the present day.  This dual existence is mirrored by the pixel technique which is based in the past, and important to present.

Sketches/Images:

Storyboard:

Model for this project:  

DOT MATRIX REVOLUTION from superbrothers on Vimeo.

I've also been looking at Lotte Reiniger's Cinderella, although it is not particularly informing the style of the project I am proposing.

Timetable:
Week 1:

• Animatic 
• First draft of sound 
• Begin creating sprites

Week 2:

• Create essential sprites and simplified backgrounds

Week 3:

• 2nd draft animatic using sprites and simplified backgrounds 
• Identify if any additional sprites or backgrounds are needed

Week 4:

• Finalize sound
• Created any additionally needed sprite animations

Week 5:

• Complete final animation using final sprites/backgrounds

Distribution or Exhibition:
The internet/Vimeo
Ohio Shorts Festival