Durex - Illustration Experiments

As Ally was doing the illustrations the project, it was decided that I would factor as each of the illustrations in order for them to be ready to be animated, as I was more confident in digital illustration. Therefore, I began to experiment with some of the initial illustrations we had come up together with.

Initial Experiments:

Figure 1

Figure 2

Through using the initial idea sketches which Ally sent through, I decided to create outlines using Illustrator, ensuring that each of the elements were on their own separate level due to the fact that when being exported into after effects in order to be able to animate correctly every aspect needed to have its own layer, as can be seen in figure 1.

As can be seen in figure 2, three using the initial illustration as reference image I was able to get the scale and design as close as possible. Figure 2 shows an example of the illustration just as outlines, without any fall colours this is something I will be experimenting with in the style of the research which we have completed.

Colour Trials

Figure 3

As can be seen in figure 3 I initially experimented with minimal colour as this was the style of the initial illustration in which was handed over from the animator/illustrator. Although I felt this design was lacking depth, even though the addition of slight depth within the hair in the use of transparency on some elements of the make-up. In order to be able to get that to make the piece come to life, I decided to experiment further with colour. Due to the fact that it is an animation talking about stories a belief that by having more humanistic/animatic style towards it will bring the character to life rather than looking like such a flat illustration.

Figure 4

As can be seen in figure 4 experimented with colour in a pastel way, this was inspired by the visual research we have carried out. It was evident in almost every piece that we carried out the colour was used in an alternative manner to be able to bring the figures and characters to life in a way that differs from human characteristics. Having this contrast between unrealistic colour and realistic features allow for a level of related ability to the character themselves, while still retaining further back enough from the visual that it remains a cartoonlike animation style, retaining a tone of voice which we have previously explored.

I'll be presenting both of the styles within the next great as well as critiquing them with Ally herself to be able to get feedback on which one to move forward with in terms of creating the rest of the illustrations.