Creating a Cartoon Character
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The Evolution of Two Mythical Characters
Life in Hell caught the eye of Hollywood writer-producer and Gracie Films founder James L. Brooks, who had been shown the strip by fellow producer Polly Platt.[28][33] In 1985, Brooks contacted Groening with the proposition of working in animation on an undefined future project,[7] which would turn out to be developing a series of short animated skits, called "bumpers," for the Fox variety showThe Tracey Ullman Show. Originally, Brooks wanted Groening to adapt his Life in Hell characters for the show. Groening feared that he would have to give up his ownership rights, and that the show would fail and would take down his comic strip with it.[34] Groening conceived of the idea for The Simpsons in the lobby of James L. Brooks's office and hurriedly sketched out his version of adysfunctional family: Homer, the overweight father; Marge, the slim mother; Bart, the bratty oldest child; Lisa, the intelligent middle child; and Maggie, the baby.[34][35][36] Groening famously named the main Simpson characters after members of his own family: his parents, Homer and Margaret (Marge or Marjorie in full), and his younger sisters, Lisa and Margaret (Maggie). Claiming that it was a bit too obvious to name a character after himself, he chose the name "Bart," an anagram of brat.[34][37] However, he stresses that aside from some of the sibling rivalry, his family is nothing like the Simpsons.[38]Groening also has an older brother and sister, Mark and Patty, and in a 1995 interview Groening divulged that Mark "is the actual inspiration for Bart."[39]
The family was crudely drawn, because Groening had submitted basic sketches to the animators, assuming they would clean them up; instead, they just traced over his drawings.[34] The entire Simpson family was designed so that they would be recognizable in silhouette.[41] When Groening originally designed Homer, he put his own initials into the character's hairline and ear: the hairline resembled an 'M', and the right ear resembled a 'G'. Groening decided that this would be too distracting though, and redesigned the ear to look normal. He still draws the ear as a 'G' when he draws pictures of Homer for fans.[42] Marge's distinct beehive hairstyle was inspired by Bride of Frankenstein and the style that Margaret Groening wore during the 1960s, although her hair was never blue.[6][43] Bart's original design, which appeared in the first shorts, had spikier hair, and the spikes were of different lengths. The number was later limited to nine spikes, all of the same size.[44] At the time Groening was primarily drawing in black and "not thinking that [Bart] would eventually be drawn in color" gave him spikes that appear to be an extension of his head.[45] Lisa's physical features are generally not used in other characters; for example, in the later seasons, no character other than Maggie shares her hairline.[46] While designing Lisa, Groening "couldn't be bothered to even think about girls' hair styles".[47] When designing Lisa and Maggie, he "just gave them this kind of spiky starfish hair style, not thinking that they would eventually be drawn in color".[48] Groening storyboarded and scripted every short (now known as The Simpsons shorts), which were then animated by a team including David Silverman and Wes Archer, both of whom would later become directors on the series.[49]
The Simpsons shorts first appeared in The Tracey Ullman Show on April 19, 1987.[50] Another family member, Grampa Simpson, was introduced in the later shorts. Years later, during the early seasons ofThe Simpsons, when it came time to give Grampa a first name, Groening says he refused to name him after his own grandfather, Abraham Groening, leaving it to other writers to choose a name. By coincidence, they chose Abraham, unaware that it was the name of Groening's grandfather.[51]
The Simpsons shorts first appeared in The Tracey Ullman Show on April 19, 1987.[50] Another family member, Grampa Simpson, was introduced in the later shorts. Years later, during the early seasons ofThe Simpsons, when it came time to give Grampa a first name, Groening says he refused to name him after his own grandfather, Abraham Groening, leaving it to other writers to choose a name. By coincidence, they chose Abraham, unaware that it was the name of Groening's grandfather.[51]
Develop Your Own Style
Artist and Animator Kevin McShane drew himself in 100 different ways based on other artists unique design styles.
How many different artists do you recognize? What makes these artist's styles stand out from other artists
How many different artists do you recognize? What makes these artist's styles stand out from other artists
DAILY GRADE #1 = Make yourself into a cartoon designed after a famous animator's style (on paper) ; scan your paper with my printer so we can have a digital copy.
DAYS:
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OBJECTIVE(S):
The student will be able to create and animate their own cartoon character
NOTE:
Want to learn more about how to create a character and animate using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and After Effects?
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OBJECTIVE(S):
The student will be able to create and animate their own cartoon character
NOTE:
Want to learn more about how to create a character and animate using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and After Effects?
Click the Button Below
Character Turnaround
Day 2
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Day 2 - 5
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MAJOR GRADE #1
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BONUS = n/a
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Day 2 - 5
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MAJOR GRADE #1
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Drawing Composite Forms and Volumes
- Review the handout with the Spheres with Cross Contours
- Draw 8 spheres with cross contour lines vertically and horizontally so that the spheres look like they are rotating in 8 different directions.
- Review the handout of the variations on Cylinders,
- Draw 8 different variations on a the cylinder
- Review Heads and Body Composites
- Draw 8 different head forms with center and eye lines.
- Draw 8 different torso forms with composited or tapered qualities.