Bear is my final year film from my Animation Degree. Animated in Softimage XSI, I wanted to prove the abilities I had learnt in my degree by challenging myself with the creation of a complicated environment, using a range of camera angles, lighting and models based on my own childhood experiences.

 

 

Synopsis

When Bear falls out of bed he lands in new daunting surroundings. Scared by the strange noises and objects in the room, he encounters many of his owner’s other toys and uncovers what really happens when he is normally asleep.

 

Treatment

Bear is a short children's story aimed at a young age group from 3-10 year olds. It focuses on the love of a teddy from a young boy and when that teddy is separated from his comfort zone he feels lost and insecure. However the story shows how familiar aspects can make you feel welcome and more at home.

This story is based around nostalgic purposes, looking at classic toys from childhood alongside other new characters. Influences have come from such animated films as Toy Story (1996) and The Sandman (1996) by looking at the use of extreme low angles, lighting and exaggerated sounds. Research was also taken into looking at Alfred Hitchcock for his use of heightened sound and again camera angles.

The film is computer animated with the feel of 2D by using a toon art lens shader to give black edges of a cartoon. It is brightly coloured from the spooky night setting at the beginning and end, and the cheerful atmosphere of the night light in the middle section, appealing again to a younger audience.

The aim of this film was to concentrate on the style and design of the aesthetics, whilst achieving a gripping and intriguing storyline that can keep a child’s attention. Throughout the project I had many challenges including synching the character movements to the funky musical score (created by Peter Renton, fellow classmate) to demonstrate a playful rhythm. The biggest task, however, was to work on the animation of a whole collection of characters at the same time in the same shot.