I was asked to make this animated commercial for a radio-station, and they already had audio commercial that was 16 seconds long. It was somewhat descriptive. Something like Pepsi-cola promotions. You hear the sound of two ice cubes breaking into the glass, then a cork pops out, the sound of liquid pouring into the glass, and hissing noise- then a voice says a line- 100% natural, no hilly-billy no kitsch - a gurgling sound and the name of the radio followed by a swallowing sound.
The thing they had in mind was to draw some man drinking some kind of juice, but for me it was to obvious. I have this rule that I will throw away first three ideas as common. Because that’s something anybody would think of, and then adopt a fourth idea that comes to my mind.
The idea was to make stereotype characters who exchange their roles. There is a Disney’s cute, angel-like princess, but she is impatient and demanding, and there is a witch who is clumsy, and frightened by the temper of the princess.
the witch is suppose to turn a frog back into the prince. And it seams as if she is not very successful. Now I had to explain that the preparation is taking time and princess is still waiting. Now she is angry of witch and the witch understands that it’s her last chance of getting it right or else…
When you create a character the main rule is to show the audience- who the character is- in the first scene. In this case it had to be the first shot (because of the short duration). In less then a second.
My first solution was to get a shot of the hand, with fingers tapping on the table. But when I tried it on the time line it was just not possible as it would require another shot to show the princess for the first time, and it just couldn’t fit it to those 16 s. I needed a new solution.
The princess had to be visible in the first shot. So I needed someone wicked, bored, inpatient, but still she had to say that she has the power over the witch. Means she had to feel right and comfortable where ever she is. Even in the witch’s laboratory, surrounded by frightening objects such as sculls, poisons and all sort of witchcraft.
So, the only solution was to put her legs on the table.
I had to visualize the position of the had and the hands so… the first sketch was of myself :D.
Then I had to make the princess lok little more feminine. I usually draw the body construction and then lay the clothes over the body.
The first drawing was not what I wanted. I wanted someone cute and innocent. This one was a bich. (the princess had to be wicked but she also had to be the image of innocence)
a bit of childish look and I got a perfect first shot.
This picture should say to the audience that the princess is waiting. She is confident. She feels that she is the master of the castle, even the most scary parts of it. And that everybody should fear of her decisions. If the princess was a bit more wicked it would imply that she didn’t wait so long and we want to show how much of the wrong potions did the witch prepare till now.
I understand that sometimes you have to lose details that you really like (as I did with the tapping hand) because of the complete picture, and you hate it but it pays of in the end eventually. When you simplify the structure everything becomes more clear.
