Happy New Year!!!

Yeah, sorry it's a bit late. I'll post a proper blog on what I've been doing since November (!) shortly. Rest assured, I've been doing important stuff and things (re-writing episodes 1, 2 and currently 3) and I've been getting James to model some scenery/objects, but I have this week off work and I intend to get stuff done.

I'll have plenty of pictures to put on next time too, I had planned to post some but I've had a few technical issues.

Hope/Change/Other buzzwords

Well folks, it's certainly been a while hasn't it? Yes, in a scene so typically 'me' I haven't updated this thing in over a month. Well, inspired in part by a certain man's victory speech this is going to change. Things have certainly changed since I last posted - the economy has gone into melt-down (I work for a bank - great..) and more recently, America has a new president - one of those new-fangled 'negroes'

I'll start by saying I haven't been completely inactive, although Football Manager and Fable 2 have conspired to try and make this so, as has the usual copious amounts of naturally-occuring plants. But anyway, I'm going to make a conscious attempt to get this going at full pelt again as I am concerned at the lack of recent posts.

For a quick status update, other projects for Dan and James have got in the way of starting the actual character designs (this is fair considering other projects actually pay money out) and secondly, my own ineptitude has also caused the project to stagnate somewhat from a visual point of view.

Dan and James have set up their own website which I understand James will be migrating his blog to and can be found here: www.iontide.com, or simply google "iontide" and I'm told it is the number 1 hit on the list. Then again, it's suprising what you can do on Google when you make up your own word.. :)

With those shameless plugs out the way, I'll move onto my own developments and let you know that the scripts are currently undergoing a process of revision (this is the first and only time you'll associate that word with me, even during the course of degrees and exams) and the first episode has had some amendments made to it which I'll detail

here. Well, not exactly right here, but on this next line of text. The episode is now around 45-60 seconds longer to allow for some more character development and story telling. Therefore we get more of Boris and Miguel, along with a couple of new jokes/visual gags and the extra scene I've added now helps with the overall pacing of the episode. Lastly, I've changed the ending of the episode so that it now kind of actually ends, as opposed to the rather abrupt cut-off from before. I'll post it on here shortly.

Lastly, I'll be recording some voices this week as I have people who I think are capable of doing all 4 characters but we will see, won't we? Additionally I'll be starting the character designs, etc this week/weekend so hopefully soon I'll have some things to put up on here. Oh, and lastly, I think Esteban might be making a guest return again soon but we'll see, he's a frightfully lazy man.

In the words of Jerry: "Until next time, take care of yourselves, and each other."

Episodio Cuatro

As promised the other day, here's episode 4 of The Cautionary Tales.

http://rapidshare.com/files/146127263/TCT_-_Webisode_IV_-_The_Four_Yorkshiremen_of_the_Apocalypse_v1.2.doc.html

DOWNLOAD IT FOR THRILLS AND SPILLS, ETC.

Youtube

Just thought I'd mention quickly that I've created a Youtube account and I'm going to use it for storing influences and ideas, such as the ones I've already discussed. It can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/TheCautionaryTales

Cheers

Episode 2 : None of that "Clone Wars" shit either...

As promised, Episode 2 is now available online for your perusal. Feeback, etc to the usual address:

the.cautionary.tales.of@gmail.com

Anyway, the script can be found here:


http://rapidshare.com/files/142356671/TCT_-_Webisode_II_-_The_Owl_and_t__Pussycat_v1.1.doc.html



Laters folks, "peace in the East" and other non-descript slogans.

Hooters.

Now I've got your attention, thought I'd make a late night post on the blog... No, not that sort..

Anyway, I'm going to try and keep the posts a little shorter for your digestion so I'll post Boris' character description, then an image or two of how he looks and possibly something on his voice.

Name: Boris

Also known as: “The Owl”

Age: Unknown, but would appear the same, or a little older than the others.

Main Relationships: Esteban (friend), Miguel (best friend/foe), Bones (friend)

Appearance:

Bones is an owl, standing around 4½ foot or so, quite plump in appearance. He has ears and big yellow eyes, with a bright yellow beak, and he wears a pair of NHS-style spectacles with a collar and bow-tie. He is vaguely reminiscent of Ronnie Barker in a way. He has large wings and a pair of spiky yellow feet with talons.

Clothes:

Other than for occasional storyline purposes, the only items Boris wears are his collar, bow-tie and glasses.

Personality:

Boris is the wiser, more level-headed member of the group. He offers advice to any who seek it, and is often the person people go to when they feel they have no-one else to turn to.

Whilst excellent at helping others, Boris does not listen to his own advice and generally ends up making himself look like a fool. He is unlucky in love and is continually teased about it, as he falls in love too easily.

Boris is extremely intelligent, and as such, prefers to hang around with Miguel, rather than Esteban and Bones. As the latter are unable to understand Miguel, Boris has become his closest friend. As they are both extremely intelligent, and prone to the odd strop, they often fall out and are like an old married couple. They are best friends at heart and are regularly out drinking together and making fools of themselves. Boris is also a weed smoker, mainly from his time at university. He has a job at a bank and works part-time hours.

Mannerisms:

Boris is a calm, rational fellow but will be prone to the occasional strop when he feels people aren’t listening to him. He isn’t the most graceful of birds and this is particularly true when stoned or drunk. He talks in a fairly deep voice, with a broad Yorkshire accent.


Sadly I haven't been able to upload a sketch as of yet, but here's my vague image, just imagine the owl a little fatter.

As for the accent, think Monty Python's Four Yorkshiremen sketch and you'll know what I mean. Tomorrow I'll post the final character description (Esteban's best friend, 'Bones') and after that post the second script so you get a full introduction to the 4 main characters. Hopefully I'll have some images soon of Bones and Boris too.

Anyway, peace in the East, etc.

Webisode 1 - Meet The Mexican

For today's blog I thought I'd give you a different kind of treat. This does depend on your definition of the word 'treat', but I thought you might like to see the script for the first episode of the animation. It's in it's first draft, and there are some tweaks in my head that I want to make, but it's almost there I think.

Despite the fact that it introduces two characters I haven't yet described, I thought I'd post it anyway and my next couple of posts will be to describe the two characters left to introduce.

The first of these is "Bones", Esteban's best friend/partner in crime. For now, think of him as a tall skinny 25 year-old with a shaved head and slightly skeletal (although not ugly) features. His accent is the one typical in my neck of the woods, a broad Black country accent. Here's a video for those who don't know what I mean.

Ignore the bloke's own words, folk round here should be proud of their accent!

Anyway, Boris is as my main profile image is, an owl that looks a bit Ronnie-Barker esque, and has a northern/Yorkshire accent.

Anyway, without further ado, click here to get a copy of the script for Episdode 1, depending on the response, I may post or e-mail some of the further 5 I've written. Laters homies.

http://rapidshare.com/files/141144250/TCT_-_Webisode_I_-_Meet_The_Mexican_v1.1.doc.html

Elevator Muzak..

I'm going to take a moment now to talk about music and sound. I have a friend who has said he's possibly interested in scoring it, but this is one area I genuinely would like as much feedback and suggestions as possible as despite being mildly proficient on the guitar (I could probably do session work for say, Status Quo) I'm usless at all other instruments.

Additionally I have no ability to read music and I doubt I could have much of a stab at composition, so I'm throwing it open to people. I know I have a lot of musical friends so if you want to send any suggestions, please e-mail the.cautionary.tales.of@gmail.com or e-mail here to request the first script and I'll send it to you. Over the course of this post I'll attempt to steer you in the direction I'm thinking and you can see if you agree or disagree.

My first thought was of course, Ennio Morricone's seminal scores to Sergio Leone's Westerns, 'the man with no name' trilogy and, as mentioned previously, "Once Upon A Time in the West". It was with some glee I stumbled upon this genius cover of it, by the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. As several people I know can attest to, I've raved about them.



The two main things I love about this performance for the animation are the smallness of sound that the ukes create, yet when played in numbers they are beautifully full sounding. I feel this creates a great sound for the animation as it conveys the simplicity it has, but with the thickness of the sound of so many it also conveys the depth of story.

My second favourite idea in it is the bit 3:47 in where the backing vocals are a kind of "AAAAIIIIEEEE!!" noise. I think this and possibly the whistling would work well.

My next thought was that some sort of trumpet could be used to give an authentic Mexican sound. This clip should show what I mean with the "Mexican Hat Dance", and I think Rafael Mendez' accent is awesome...




Lastly, a bit of Rodrigo Y Gabriella, and I just love the rhythm to their playing.





That's about it for now, like I say, feedback would be appreciated.