Budget research

My Animation in Current Trends

I feel as though Trace would fit in well to the current marketplace. It has the necessary ingredients to make a cult classic animation short. The intended high budget CGI animation allows for infinite possibilities when it comes to visual effects, and with some darker themes and dystopian atmosphere i believe it could give animation a foothold in the young adult market. (Somewhere that animation isn't so prevalent.)

Trace would deliver with some of the edgiest trends, especially parkour. Parkour is very much in it's infancy, and has sky rocketed in popularity due to it's seemingly 'dangerous' image. In the animation i would highlight Parkour as a beneficial pursuit with positive effects for the protagonist, and avoid as much as possible the exacerbation of any negative misconceptions

With the internet playing an increasingly large role in the digestion of media i think a platform like Vimeo or Youtube is where this animation belongs. It would provide quick and easy access to the piece, as well as the ability to share and distribute it through the likes of social media, where it would be bound to build an audience.

Trace - Target Audience

Name: James

Age: 18

Average Day: James begins his day with his commute to college via train. After doing his lessons for the day he heads to the local climbing wall to train. When he gets home he eats and showers before completing homework and gaming. He listens to music at intervals throughout the day.

Hobbies and Interests: James has been practising the increasingly popular discipline of parkour for around a year now after hearing about it in college. He naturally warms to it due to his climbing background. In his spare time he also plays piano.

Spending Power: James has a part time job at a local sports centre, he doesn't earn much, but what he does earn is entirely expendable as he lives with his parents.

Typical Daily Media Consumption: In a typical day James will listen to around half an hour of music, particularly during travel. He will also game through Steam for about an hour. In college he may also read a magazine during lunch. At home James will catch up with his social media, and read news articles online.

Trace will appeal to James because he shares an interest in the themes of parkour and climbing. He will enjoy the style of animation because it includes themes from popular games that he plays.

Trace - Legal and Ethical Issues

Representation and Ethics in Cartoons

The writer of the article has spotted some things which he deems to be problematic with Rio 2.
He notices that the lead characters are voiced by white american people, and that characters who are indigenous to the setting of Brazil are voiced by Latin actors / actresses. In addition the "singing dancing, comic relief sidekicks" are mainly voiced by african-americans like Jamie Foxx and will.i.am.

With regard to stereotypes in animation, PEP means 'Problem context', 'Entertainment context' and 'Performance context'. Dr Charles Da Costa is a british lecturer who uses these in his lectures.
He says that within animation, black people typically "strive to pacify, make others happy and be exceptional or extraordinary." He goes on to state that "Villainy, exoticism, jocularity and athleticism are common indicators of this malaise".

Da Costa believes that one of the reasons we end up with stereotypes in animation might be because "Decisions on character and performance must be made quickly in order for design and production processes to commence and advance." He goes on to mention that "representations of ethnicity and epidermal type, family animation often finds itself in a bind.

Trace - Budget

Voice Talent

Character: Miles

Personality: Calm, Sensitive, Wise

Voice required: Soft, and solemn, but can be loud.

Ultimate choice: Freddie Highmore (Age 14)

Freddie is a talented young English Actor. He has an english accent which is correct for the setting, though he is also capable of others. He has starred in many successful films including the lead roles in August Rush, The Spiderwick Chronicles and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He was admired for his exceptional performances throughout his childhood and adolescence and would create the perfect voice for Miles.

Shape Doodle Sheet

Current trends in Animation

Trends for Feature films

Sequels

Franchises

Computer Generated Imagery

Blockbuster Companies - pixar, dream works etc.

Star voice actors 

Family adventures

TV series'

The Simpsons

Family guy

South park

American dad

Adventure Time

Ed, Edd and Eddy

Trends for TV series'

Episodes are typically lead by characters, after each episode characters don't tend to develop much or at all.

They are abstract and unpredictable mostly containing 2D characters that complete an objective or goal in one episode. Occasionally with a cliffhanger for the next episode. Alongside these singular episodes there are long running plots that follow the whole series. 

All of the above are mainly aimed at children, teens and young adults.

Web series'

ASDF Movies

Charlie the unicorn

Happy Tree Friends

trends for web series

short

often Edgy and Offensive or controversial.

teenage audience

Trace - Story

Trace - an Animation Short

Synopsis -

The story of 'Trace' touches on the themes of fear, disability and self belief. It revolves around the protagonist, Miles, a boy born blind and orphaned. He grows up in his Foster - mother's home in New London - an alternative London, where the population has increased and many areas have become severely run down. The streets are busy, and Miles prefers the solitude of his room - high up in a terrace where he reads braille. In his melancholy isolation Miles has become a recluse, feeling unable to integrate into society.
-
One evening, Miles put down his book and stood at the window. He felt as though a cold sadness has filled him to the brim. Overwhelmed, he pushed against the pane, and to his surprise it gently swung open. A cool, inviting breeze rolled over him, and an unexplainable urge beckoned him out on to the sill.
In the pale moonlight Miles contemplated his worth. As he pondered, a serene feeling of calmness fell over him - 'is this a natural reaction?' he wonders. Up until this point Miles had been gazing where he guessed his feet would be, now he noticed his hands - grasping the edge of the roof above. The texture of the brick was strangely inviting. An unexpected choice presented itself, what he hadn't come here to fall after all? What if this wasn't the end?
With all the might and conviction he could muster, he turned away from the drop and pulled himself up and over onto the rooftop. As he stood up an alien but oddly familiar warmth returned to his body, from his head right through his fingertips and down to the soles of his feet. He was immediately struck by the  immense, grotesque beauty at his fingertips - a vast array of rooftops shoulder to shoulder, all different colours, textures and of varying states of decay. Enormous tile hills sprawled in every direction separated by plateaus of flat roofs dotted with TV aerials and air vents. All of it was softly lit by the moon, brighter now through parted clouds.
Miles began to feel his way through the labyrinth of the rooftops. Brick by brick the shapes began to make sense, he felt the structures beneath his feet - solid and unyielding. He could hear the breeze rolling around him, moving through the towering concrete jungle.

So he followed it.

Faster he stepped, faster and lighter until the obstacles in his path shone with a brilliant glow as he moved over and around them. He laughed, for he knew he couldn't see them. Could he?

Miles final character design

Final Design and Character Profile