User Reaction

Overview:

The use of class time to execute our paper prototypes was productive as it provided an economic means for the class to explore each others thesis project on an interactive personal level. Not all paper prototypes were perfect; it was just as important to critique the effectiveness of the each paper prototype as well during user interaction. Our group included Tim, Justyna,Chris and Joseph. Our time was devided into 40min sessions for each group member. Visual narrative was the dominating theme for each project with emphisis on charater development.

User Reaction:

Tim_

Tim's prepared paper-prototype consisted of animal character renderings and a preliminary story board for a short animation. His stylized animals with human qualities such as a shark, pig, crow, and others are in a state of purgatory (a drinking tavern) playing poker while "Death" orders a drink at the bar. Tim's concepts for the characters and their role in the narrative are well developed. There is needed improvement of aesthetic continuity among the characters to achieve a convincing world within the animation. Tim's proficiency in multimedia comp and editing programs will prove to be a great asset in bringing his animated world alive. I recommend that Tim view the animated works by Ralph Bakshi namely Fritz the Cat (1972),
Coonskin - Aka: Street Fight (1975), and Wizards (1977). Though Tim is developing his own illustrative style, examining Bakshi's work will expose him to the metaphors behind characters and how they are represented, achievement of visual/sound continuity, and perspective of comedic driven story line covering heavy and controversial issues.


Justyna_

Justyna's prepared paper-prototype consisted of character renderings and a preliminary story board for a short animation describing various scenarios faced by collage students from heartbreak, partying, dorm mates, and the class room. Her concept is solidifying as she draws inspiration from various sources for visual aesthetics and narrative form. I recommend examining the organization of information in the "Worst Case Scenario" and the anatomy of a comic strip as how they modulate the different scenarios and stories to achieve balance between subject and situation moving the time-line forward. She needs to push character development forward and take advantage of the story board process and read the book "Screenplay" for an overview plot structure.


Chris_

Chris presented an online script to describe his narrative. He aspires to produce a "Jungian psychological" story loaded with metaphors depicted by non-animate forms juxtaposed by animate ones. Chris should decide how far to push the "Jung" concept for it has been applied to numerous science fiction, horror, and noir films or create his own variation of "Jung-Freudian" pop psychology. Chris does have the capacity to articulate a story well, he will need to manage his time well and focus on section of the story, a scene or two in completed form to represent his theme for future presentations.