We are so excited to announce the release of our first episode of Smudge, the story of a little inkblot who wants to be more. This studio original was created to inspire kids to follow their dreams and become who they are meant to be. Smudge is an imaginary character who dreams of being an author. Having grown restless waiting for his creator to reveal their purpose, Smudge embarks on a courageous caper to sneak a story of their own design into the mysterious World Book that the Inkling Society, the exclusive cadre of authors who created him, jealously guard. For downloadable ESL worksheets to use in the classroom, please visit Smudge’s Corner here.
CHARACTER DESIGN
In the character design phase, our artists bring the characters to life by developing detailed designs for each one. This process involves creating a range of poses, expressions, and distinctive features that define each character’s personality and role in the story. These designs set the visual tone and by focusing on every detail, we ensure that each character is vibrant, unique, and integral to the narrative.
STORYBOARDING
In the storyboarding phase, our team transforms the script into a series of detailed sketches. These storyboards serve as a visual representation of the narrative, helping to outline the flow and composition of each scene. To further refine our vision, we develop animatics, which are rough animated versions of the storyboards. These animatics allow us to visualize the timing and pacing of the story. This step lays the groundwork for the animation, guiding us towards the final product.
ANIMATIC
An animatic is a preliminary version of an animation that combines the storyboard images with rough sound, dialogue, and timing to visualize the final product. It is essentially a moving storyboard that helps animators understand the sequence, pacing, and overall flow of the animation. By incorporating basic motion and transitions, an animatic allows the team to spot any issues with the narrative or timing before the more time-intensive and detailed animation work begins.
ANIMATION
In the 2D animation phase, our team of animators brings the story to life by transforming the animatic into fluid, detailed sequences. Using this foundation, animators create frame-by-frame drawings, capturing each movement and expression with precision. This process involves refining each frame to maintain fluidity and emotional depth, ensuring that every character’s actions are lifelike and expressive. By carefully aligning their work with the storyboard’s vision and the animatic’s pacing, our animators achieve a seamless blend of art and storytelling, resulting in Smudge coming to life.
COMPOSITING
In the compositing phase, our team brings all the visual elements together to create the final scenes. This means combining the animated characters with their backgrounds and any special effects. Using software, we adjust lighting and colors to make everything look just right and blend seamlessly. We also add details like shadows, reflections, and atmospheric effects to enhance the overall look and feel.