What is your (character's) Story

Tuesday

Bobette Buster, the author of Do / Story, created 10 Principles of Storytelling. These principles are not as legendary as the Basic Principles of Animations, but they are a good starting point for creating a character's story.

Her first principle begins with the phrase, "Tell your story as if you're telling it to a friend..."

So, after you have described your character's physical features to your sketch partner, tell your sketch partner about your character "as if he or she were your friend." Tell them a story. If possible include redemption or reinvention. Your character may be a hero or anti-hero; that is your choice.


Then write a story about your character. Tell us something special about your character. Write a blog post. Don't bore us.

For more information about story telling, watch the Bobette Buster video about story telling. If you want to listen to the "real version" of The Story of My Life, listen to Social Distortion.

Wednesday

First 10 minutes (10 points) Quick Sketch - What is your one of your character's favorite things? Draw your character with the object.

With your small group, create an interesting story where your characters meet. Each of you post the notes from the meeting. Use a notepad first! 
Post from your character's perspective.

Thursday

Create an 8 panel comic strip for your characters. Each person writes one comic strip that includes all the characters from your group.

Write an amazing story! The stories will be different, because each person will write create a story from their character's perspective. On Wednesday you wrote about how all your characters met. This is different. You all write stories that include the characters. You are developing your characters' stories more. When you write your animation, you might choose to keep some of these stories. You might ignore all of these stories, especially if the other members in your group do not find the stories consistent.

Friday

Share your 8 panel comic strips with your group. Ask each other if the comic strips are consistent with the character's personality traits. Would each character behave that way? If your character is an EFNP, why isn't he or she smiling? If your character is an ISTP, are they active? 

After you have discussed your characters, begin drawing them on the computer. (Some students started drawing their characters already.) This is not the time to learn how to become an excellent computer illustrator!

Quickly research story boards. In your group, create an 8 scene storyboard. Each student should have a similar storyboard, because you will be creating the same initial story. This story is different than the cartoon. What should the storyboard include?

Post the storyboard on your blog when finished. (You might not finish today.)