Minor Project - The Art Of

Minor Project - The Art Of Shelf Life

Minor Project - Character Development

At the end of my story, the rubber chicken is found by a young girl, Susie. Susie is alone just like the toy. She doesn't fit in with other girls who have perfect hair and play with fashion dolls. When she stumbles upon the rubber chicken, she loves him because he is as unique as she is. I want her to look odd and gawky so it would make sense that the chicken would appeal to her more than a perfect 'Barbie' type doll. For her clothing designs I researched children's clothes from the 60s.

Minor Project - Skinning

Minor Project - Finished Model and UV Layout

 

 

Minor Project - Modelling the Rubber Chicken

 

 

 

Minor Project Pitch Presentation

Minor Project Pitch

Minor Project - Script Changes

Having discussed the possibility of making alterations to my original script, I returned to the story and began exploring some changes that could be made. Whereas the story was created using the three things; an egg, a contortionist and a joke shop, I now have the opportunity to move away from those restrictions.

Original Script:

Shelf Life by MeganHowett

Script Changes:

Rather than the animation beginning with the rubber chicken being taken out of it's nest, and the journey becoming the return to the nest, he could start in a 'bargain bin'. The focus of the chicken's journey is to get a spot on the central display where all the new and popular toys are shelved. This would take place in a toy shop, rather than a joke shop as I feel this gives more opportunity for toys/characters to come alive.

Act One - The toy shop is full of children laughing and playing with toys, especially those on a large display in the centre of the shop. A rubber chicken watches from a bin in the corner, wishing someone would pick him up and play with him. The shop closes and the children go home, leaving a mess of toys on the floor.

Act Two - The rubber chicken climbs out of the bin and makes his way through the mess of toys. (Possible obstacles: jack-in-the-box, fun snaps, lego, dominoes, scalextric/train set, jacks, play doh)

Act Three - a) The chicken climbs onto the shelf just in time for the shop to open. 

b) The chicken fails to climb onto the shelf. However, a child enters the shop, finds him on the floor, picks him up and takes him home. 

In terms of style and era, I was thinking around the 1950s and I want the toys included in the animation to create a sense of nostalgia. The shop itself would appear older and dated but the display shelf that the chicken is aiming for would show toys released in the 50s, such as scalextric (released in the late 50s), play doh (first launched as a toy in 1956, however existed as a wallpaper cleaner since the 30s) and etch-a-sketch (available in the late 1950s).