HI!
If you think words and process are dumb, you can check out just the images at my new portfolio site,
woah cool, far out!
This is some work I did on our end of the year assignment, the "Three Little Pigs" Pitch. We had to reinterpret/reinvent/incorporate the story of the three little pigs and pitch it as a film, video game, tv series, franchise, etc etc. Trevor and I pretty quickly jumped to the idea of a samurai flick for some reason. I was in charge of character concepts, so, there ya go. Also, not to make excuses or anything, but most of these were done the day it was due -____-
#teamprocrastination
poster by Ryan Peters
At the very beginning I was inspired by art books by Disney/Pixar to develop a strong shape language for the film. The designs would be immediately distinguishable from each other, and hopefully reinforce the characteristics of the pigs. Large & boisterous, tall & stern, stout & balanced
costume research for the main protagonist, codename "Wolf"
upon Trevor's recommendation, I had fun scouring the work of
Yoshitoshi for inspiration
(we have a great book on his collected works in the library)
"Wolf" a peasant farmer in feudal Japan. He was an ex-soldier in the Imperial army, from where he retained his armor. He has since become rusty at fighting, but his soul burns for vengeance
Wolf Battle-scarred (aka DBZ Wolf)
Pig of Straw
Story: Violent, stupid, corrupt, gluttonous, powerful, the first pig is a dangerous foe. The youngest of the Brothers Pig, he has inherited his Imperial power and abuses it to no end. Money, women, food, all are his to do with what he pleases, as he rules through sheer brute force and terror. While he brings shame to the Imperial name, he is royal by blood, and so his two brothers turn a blind eye to his blatant disregard for law and order. The Pig of straw is the one who burns down Wolf's village and murders his family, a crime that will not go unpunished this time.
Design: I wanted this guy to be massive, a force of nature. At his belt are two beautifully crafted imperial swords, which look ridiculous on him and which he obviously never uses (they're more of a status symbol, like a corrupt off-duty cop waving his badge around). His weapon of choice is the haymaker he lugs over his shoulder. He is never apart from it and never at a loss for reasons to swing it wildly at any who anger him, or even those who do nothing at all. The kanji on his knee pads, as far as I can tell, say "Gluttony"(I'm still not sure about this choice since I don't think he would self-identify as such. He's a pig but thinks himself a noble) The gourd at his side is presumably filled with large amounts of sake
The Pig of Wood
Story: The middle brother of the Brothers Pig, he is the official commander of the Imperial Army. Ever since his older brother went into exile, he has ruled the land with a firm and disciplined hand. He values strict adherence to law above all else. He trains equally with the sword as with the brush, incessantly seeking to improve his skill. His dogmatic reverence to ancient texts and customs will ultimately be his downfall, when the Wolf uses underhanded tactics to surprise and overcome him. The idea is that he is strong but ultimately too rigid, and what cannot bend will inevitably break.
Design: as the middle brother, tremendous responsibility has fallen on the Pig of Wood. His elder brother in exile, his younger a gross blemish on the family name, he has had to carry the burden of the Three Pigs Empire alone. In order to escape what would otherwise be a crippling dysfunctional relationship to his siblings, he has forsaken his brothers and dedicated his life to the sword and the rule of law. He has surrounded himself in customs ancient and hallowed, seeking meaning and purpose in tradition. To this end, I gave him a noble's kimono, with imposing shoulder pads and rich fabrics. I gave him only one sword, presumably of the highest quality, perfectly crafted and blessed in every way known to his culture. Somewhere down the line, his costumes got more and more elaborate, and now he has lost mobility and utility in favor of decorum and status.
The Pig of Stone
Story: the Pig of Stone, Wolf's final adversary, is a monk who lives in self-imposed exile. Though he seems unassuming, he is extremely wise and powerful, a sort of Yoda-esque figure. He defeats Wolf in combat but spares his life, even though Wolf has taken the life of his brothers, setting Wolf down the path to redemption. "Hate begets more hate", says the Pig of Stone. "The cycle must be broken."
Design: Pretty much Yoda meets Gandalf meets Buddha...meets pig. Not the most groundbreaking design but a good foil to the two other brothers.
If you get a chance, check out Trevor Williams' environment designs on this project, killer work.
Jessica made a sweet sculpture of the first pig too, pretty awesome.
