BIANCA SAPPEY
DIRECTOR | PHOTOGAPHER
"A Traveller's Road"
A Bianca Sappey Animated Short
"A Traveller's Road"
FROM PAGE TO SCREEN
SYNOPSIS
In a distant land not far from memories, a Lonely Traveller ventures onto a barren path, longing for warmth and life. He meets a Little Child whose purpose is to play, a Young Boy who is always learning, a Grown Man who only works and an Old Fellow who remembers his life yet regrets no love. The Traveller discovers wonder, games, childhood, adventures, greed, and acceptance of his life with each person. Each time friends disappear, he learns to continue the path and say goodbye to the milestones that shaped him. This children's book-like parable teaches the value of every moment and to trust your chosen path.
ORIGINAL INSPIRATION
Our objective was to create a beautiful and pure 2D animated short that explores this universal journey and progression from childhood to old age in a form everyone can understand. This passion project was birthed from the film director's original story which she hoped to transform into an animation. Thus, embodying the same whimsy and colourful images that painted the written page.
Our animators took inspiration from water-coloured paintings and life-like 2D drawings that inspired the likes of Disney and Studio Ghibli films. We wanted to create an almost picture-book, children's painting styled animation that feels as if it's been written, drawn, animated and coloured as you go.
PRE-PRODUCTION
This process started with the director adapting her story from written form to a screen format. This was done by re-arranging the story, communicating story beats and descriptions through shot types and re-writing a basic script that focused on the main story: A Traveller re-living his life. Below are examples of this rough pre-production; the early stages before an animation crew:
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Original script
Director's (very rough) storyboards
After creating a very basic shot list, the director's next step was gathering an animation team to help bring her characters to life as well as providing their creative expertise.
Enter: Vy Ngo (head animator, character design + animator & titles), Henny Hildas (Environment design + animator) & Brittany Zhang (Environment design + animator). Each animator brought their own vision for the film and area of expertise in drawing, character design and VFX.
STORYBOARDS & ANIMATIC
CHARACTER DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENT DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
CONCEPT
FINAL DRAWINGS
PRODUCTION
We began further character movement tests, VFX testing and editing examples before pumping out scenes, colour grades and drawings to be edited later. Below are examples of character "romp" tests and colouring time-lapses showing our process using Photoshop.
The amount of pre-production planning allowed us to confidently go into production with few changes being made and a story that was already sound. With three different animators on board, we had to ensure all styles, brushes, colours, designs and lines matched each other to give the impression of a seamless film. While this was an extremely long process, hand-drawing each frame by frame (12 frames per second), as well as some changes to movement and pacing, we captured an extremely magically sense not achieved through any other medium.
Colouring Process
Movement Test: Little Child
POST-PRODUCTION
Once all animation and environments were completed, our director/VFX editor edited all within After Effects. She created the pacing, visual effects, transitions between shots, edited titles and ensured all elements were correctly placed and showcased for the story. Combing three animator's work and styles into one vision was no easy task, but with a dedicated team and precise director's vision, we eventually created a unique style that beautifully communicates it's story.
Character Movement Pre-Test