Adaptation Part A and B

Adaptation Part B - Making Of

Making Of How To Survive A British Holiday by MeganHowett

Adaptation Part B - Environment

Using my early designs and description from the book, I modelled part of the Clock family's home. I focused on the fireplace and surrounding objects.

Here are the texture maps for the environment and final renders.

Adaptation Part B - Character Turnaround

Adaptation Part B - CD Design

Adaptation Part B - Finished Character

Adaptation Part B - Updated Textures

After receiving feedback on my textures I worked in photoshop to improve the look of them. To make the clothes look less symmetrical I changed the colour and texture of the straps, using different scanned images for each and painted more detail on the dungarees. I also edited the stitches down the sides of the clothes to make them more oversized to match with the detail of the jeans.

I repainted the hair texture, playing with the scale of the photo texture to give a more consistent style throughout the different elements of the hair. Here are my final texture maps for my character.

Adaptation Part B - Texturing

Taking the textures I created using my scanned images, I applied them to my character in maya to see how they look in 3D. First I applied texture to her eyes and her skin. For her skin I used the mental ray fast skin shader and adjusted the settings until I was happy with the result. Using the different channels in the shader, I added detail around her eyes and freckles on her cheeks.

I used a wool/string texture for her hair, to create large stripes and tried different colours for the hair but I'm not sure which I prefer so feedback would be appreciated.

Adaptation Part B - Texture Experiments

I have been experimenting with scanning materials to create realistic textures. Using photoshop I have taken my textures and tried different combinations to make up her clothes, using the scale of the stitching to show her size. I want her clothes to look like they have been made out of scraps of material found around the house, so I want to use more than one texture in her outfit. I then tried painting under the textures and using different blending methods to make the textures look more cartoon like.

To help me decide which textures are most successful, I am going to experiment with them in Maya to see how they will work in 3D.

Adaptation Part B - Skinning, Rigging and Facial Rigging

I have finished skinning and rigging my character.

Adaptation Part B - Updated Model and UV Mapping

Here is my updated model. I have finished laying the UV maps for my model so I'm ready to start skinning.

Adaptation Part B - Modelling the Character

Adaptation Part B - More Clothing Development

Taking pieces from my initial costume designs, I have developed these thumbnails. In the book, Arrietty is adventurous but naive so I hope to show by giving her clothes that are both childish and girly, and rough and practical.

Adaptation Part B - Character Clothes Thumbnails

In photoshop, I experimented with Arrietty's clothes. I want her outfit to look as though all of the elements have been found. My favourite is number 4. The dress would be made of pieces of different materials, for example a piece of lace or cotton. The skirt would be held together at the top with a strip of material, either a ribbon, shoelace or tape measure etc. For her shoes, I had the idea of making them out of the tips of the fingers from a pair of gloves, with grips on the bottom.

Adaptation Part B - Further Character Development

Here are some thumbnail sketches of possible faces for Arrietty. I think that 3, 4 and 5 are the best as they fit the age I'm aiming for.

Next I moved onto designing some possible hairstyles. I think that 2 and 3 would work well with the style and age of my character.

Taking some of my thumbnails into photoshop, I started experimenting with hair colours. I quite like the idea of making her hair in thick strands that are like wool, 3 and 4.

Adaptation Part B - Developing Arrietty

To begin with, I studied the shapes and proportions used to draw children. As my adaptation is aimed at 5 - 8 year olds, I feel that Arrietty will best connect with the audience if she looks of similar age. I also want Arrietty to look as though, like everything in her home, she could be made out of household items. As in my earlier experiments, I used silhouettes of everyday objects to start building her shape, however 1 and 2 weren't looking very childlike, so I changed the proportions in number 3.

While trying out different shapes, I focused on the clothespin and gathered some visual research of clothespin dolls. Using these examples I started developing my own clothespin character. I want to further develop these designs, as I feel that there is a lot of 'cute potential'.

Next I began sketching some face shapes, focusing on keeping the shape and style childlike. I think that the most successful shapes are 1, 3 and 4 however the length of the face in 3 is perhaps more like that of a teen/adult than a child.  

Adaptation Part B - Style Influences

I have decided that my adaptation of The Borrowers is to be aimed at children aged between 5 - 8. To influence my designs, I have been looking at children's television shows and films, in both 3D and 2D, aimed at this demographic. 

As seen in my visual research, I feel that the best style for my target audience involves simple shapes and block colours, and iconic characters that are easy to respond to. I plan to use this simple style and translate it into 3D for my character. 

For the piece of the environment I am creating, I want a calm, homely feel, as this is where the family spend time together at night. Using stills from animated films, I have begun looking at possible colour palettes for the environment. I want my character to be made up of stronger colours than the environment that still fit in and compliment it.

Adaptation Part B Interim Crit Presentation

Adaptation Part B Interim Crit

Adaptation Part B - Environment Development

Before starting to develop the environment I looked at images that could help me understand the space. As the Borrowers live in the space under the floorboards of the kitchen, I looked at dollhouses and attic/basement rooms in real houses, as I feel that rooms shaped like this would be similar to the space under the floor. 

One feature of the environment I want to focus on is the fire place. In the book it is described to have been made from an old cog from a cider press, with a metal funnel acting as a chimney. I begin I designed multiple cogs, and chose to develop number 5 and 8 further.

My favourite of these ideas is a mix of 2 and 3. The cog featured in number 2 is a blend of numbers 5 and 8 from the first image. I like the cog in 2 and the funnel in 3.

Adaptation Part B - Book Extract

I want to create part of the Clock family's living room, described in this extract from the book. I plan to focus on the fireplace featured in the description.

The Borrowers Extract

Adaptation Part B - The Borrowers

For my Adaptation Part B project I have chosen to adapt 'The Borrowers' written by Mary Norton. My aim to design a character and part of an environment from the book.

The Borrowers live in the secret places of quiet old houses; behind the mantelpiece, inside the harpsichord, under the kitchen clock. They own nothing, borrow everything, and think that human beings were invented just to do the dirty work.

Arrietty's father, Pod, was an expert Borrower. He could scale curtains using a hatpin, and bring back a doll's teacup without breaking it. Girls weren't supposed to go borrowing but as Arrietty was an only child her father broke the rule, and then something happened which changed their lives. She made friends with the human boy living in the house...

I began looking at children's films and television programmes. In particular, I looked at those that feature small characters in a giant world, for example Toy Story.

To start designing the characters and environment I found lots of images of everyday objects that the borrowers could use. As a feature of the environment is the fireplace made from cogs and a funnel, I looked in depth at a number of different styles of cogs. The family live under the clock, which gives their family name, therefore I hope to include pieces that reflect this.