West and the moon...

[secondlina]

ilikebigtoes  and elle_white  have already posted this, but since this journal is pretty much a dumping pile for all fairy tale things and animation things I find awesome, i'll post it too.

Ex-Disney employees (EDIT : They don't work there. But they are clearly talented enough to do awesome stuff) made a video  "animation" of a storyboard for a scene from a potential "Wicked" animated adaptation. This would be an adaptation of the musical or course, not the book per say. First off, I love this video and this idea. "Wicked" the musical had a very Disney-esque quality to it (despite the storyline itself being more the type of scenario Dreamworks would pick up). This would make a great animation. And the people who did this story board clearly know that. The tracks used are from the "Hunchback of Notre-Dame" and "Wicked".

Click image for video.



I love this type of thing. Animated storyboards? Love it. I adore this type of crude animation with a voice-over. It's so simple and beautiful. "How to train your dragon" had 3 animated storyboards and I think i've watched them all 10 or so times. The worse part is, I could totalyl make this type of thing. This requires no knowledge of animation programs. Just some good old pencil drawings, a basic editing program and a soundtrack. So why didn't I EVER do this? I guess I need an idea and a song/dialog.

I'm kinda amused by how many guards Elphaba is tossing aside with a BROOM. One of the recurring gags in the Oz books is that fact that the Emerald city has barely any guards. I guess they all quit after getting their ass handed to them by a broom. It's pretty embarrassing.

Aside from that, what is new? Well, I pretty much spent the weekend recovering from my horrible, stressful week. I'm never doing that much stuff ever again. I also realized i'm way behind on stuff I need to do, emails, rps and coloring drawings. I need to make a to-do list again. I want to try dividing my time more. I want to see people (so i'm not quite so horribly lifeless and boring) while still keeping enough time to draw.

Pascal really wants me to find a part-time job and invest more time into becoming a comic artist. It was a plan I had formed myself, but like most plans I make, this one seemed to translate into a bad idea. I didn't really like the idea of cutting back on work. It made me feel like I was irresponsible or ungrateful, since so many people seek full-time work. But Pascal says I should try to develop my artistic career while I can and make the monetary sacrifices while it's still actually possible. He's right? I'm right? I don't know. I would love to be able to draw more and focus on really getting into the comic world. Maybe i'm afraid to take on the part time job because i'm also afraid it officially means i'll have to really start being a "professional" artist. And that's a lot of work and scary things.

What do you guys think?

Well, as a random finishing touch, I drew some sailor moon. I'm really unhappy with these sketches... But I like the feel of them, so i'll post them anyways. For some reason, I seem to adore the pre-destruction-silver-moon-millenium-kingdom. Why could they not give us more scenes from that?





Over and out.

- Isa

Comments

[paynesgrey.livejournal.com]

I love that Sailor Moon picture! So cute. Wonderful job. :)

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

That looks so awesome, I wish they would make Wicked into an animated movie, it would fit so well. ^_^ (Hey, if you ever need voice actors, I'm sure Stu would be up for it. He loves acting. XD)

I can see the good points on both sides. On the one hand, full time job means more money, but part-time job leaves more time for comic career. Maybe what you could do is work full time to save up money and then it won't be so hard when you switch to a part-time job. With that said, I see nothing wrong with working part-time because you want to further your comic career.

Also, cute Sailor Moon pic. ^_^

[snapdragon76.livejournal.com]

Awesome video I must say, even though I am unfamiliar with Wicked.

Well, that's a tough question. I mean, I have to agree with earthstar_chan and perhaps try to save up a little bit with the job you have now, that way you could have a cushion for if you do go to a part-time job.

[darksyx.livejournal.com]

Wicked musical made into an animation movie would be ridiculously awesome. It would translate really well to animation.

Nice Sailor Moon fanart, btw.

[amelia-seyroon.livejournal.com]

I never saw Wicked. ;o;

That second Sailor Moon art is my favorite. So cute. <3

When are you gonna rant about Red Riding Hood? It's a fairy tale, too. >D

[yamiloo.livejournal.com]

Making the decision to dedicate your life to art might be scary, but if you don't do it, you will probably live to regret not taking the chance when it was still an option.

There's no shame in being an artist and living off commissions/publishing deals. I think American society has engrained this negative stereotype of artists having to be poor and undervalued, which causes us to think we NEED to be. It couldn't be further from the truth!

Art, and specifically sequential art (comics, storyboarding, animation, character design, etc) is a LEGITIMATE career! And you can be happy doing it! It's not easy of course, and if you want to succeed, you will need to decide that is your career and not a hobby. Just as important as the artwork itself are the connections you make with other artists. Networking is invaluable.

I think you're tremendously talented as an illustrator (I haven't seen much comic work from you yet, I should look into that!) and it would be a waste if you didn't do something with it. It's my belief that people should make the most of their talents. Anyone can get a desk job and make a living that way, but you're the only person who can tell your stories and draw them in your style. =)

[psychosongtress.livejournal.com]

If they actually did this, It would be the smartest move ever. A live action would take away from the magic of the stage, and It would wonderful to see Wicked as an animated movie. (Shivers at the thought) I didnt hear the music from hunchback though . . I did hear a piece of 'Savages' From Pocahontas thoug :-)

I loooooooooove~ your sailor moon art! The first one is sooo cute! and the whole gang is there for the second one XD

[sockefeller.livejournal.com]

I'm actually going to be doing a similar thing this spring, and I can agree that it's pretty nerve wracking to think about... but working full-time and trying to get my own work off the ground too is rough. If I take time out to focus on just my art for awhile, there's obviously a chance I won't succeed -- but there's an even bigger chance I won't succeed if I continue the way things are now. If you've got enough saved up or think you can manage it, give it a shot so you can at least say you gave it a shot!

[kuridee.livejournal.com]

...hhhngh, that storyboard is a thing of beauty. I need animated!Wicked in my life right now.

I think having a part-time job and focusing more on art is an awesome idea. I mean, at least you have Namesake and other comic projects to do. :D

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D they are very fun to draw!

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Well, i'm definitely going to stick with full time for another few months, if only to make sure I gain enoguh for Disney. Heck, maybe the Disney trip could be the marker from "full time" to "part time". I calculated I require a minimum of 1100$ to survive per month.

I love this little video. ISA WANTS.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Even without knowing the tale, the song pretty much defines the situation pretty nicely :D

It is a though question. I also have to consider that my goal is to get PAID illustration work. So that kinda factors in too.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

It would! I think the animation would work much better then live action. At lest for the musical. The book is far too gruesome for animation.

and thanks!

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

I wish I could, but I haven't seen Red Riding Hood yet, though the trailer so far makes me think "Nice visuals, weird twilightesque story." Guess I might wait for the rental!

[neocloud9.livejournal.com]

Yay, gorgeousness! Loved that storyboard, too.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Coming from you, this is very encouraging, since I consider you a pretty good example of what I want to be.

I work a lot of drawings, despite my job, what I lack is the networking. I don't have the time to network. So I don't. And it's not doing me any good.

I want my comics to be more then a hobby, but I don't want to live off someone else. That why I figured the part-time work could be a good solution until I manage to make commissions and publishing work for me. So, basically, to be able to make money off art, I need more time, to have more time, I need less work, which would great this gap with less money... It's a complicated issue. I find the part-timing is my current favorite solution.

Thanks for all the encouragements... :D It warms my heart! Feel free to dispense any and all wisdom my way. I really need and appreciate it.

At least, if you ever feel like checking out my comic work, there's plenty online! :D

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Oh, maybe it's Pocahontas? I though it was Notre-dame. Might be wrong!

Some stories fit mediums well, and Wicked definitely is a nice fit for animation. Hey, they could get all the original broadway crew to do the voices too. It would be the second time Edina Menzel gets animated.

Thanks! Sailor moon is ridiculously fun to draw.

[chameleon9999.livejournal.com]

I love Mars' expression. And Mercury's slightly messy hair.

It's great that you might be able to breach art as a hobby and become a professional artist. :)

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Oh, you'll succeed!! You already succeeded. You were named on a bunch of blogs as "super-awesome-upcoming-artist-of-2011" (you can't hide it! I saw it all! :D). I have no doubt that you will be successful. I believe in you and so do a ton of other artists! In your case, part-timing or trying to live off the art is a perfect and inevitable plan. Please go for it! I have so much faith in what you do and your delightful imagination, it's crazy! :D

I'm fairly unknown, which is one of the reasons why I think focusing on the art more is a potentially bad idea for me. My style might be original, but it's not getting noticed much... or maybe i'm not going to the right places? Curse you networking, and your tricky trickiness.

Thanks for leaving the comment though, it makes me so happy to see i'm not the only person suffering froma bad case of nerves over this! I really appreciate your support.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

LOL your life?

I do have a lot of comic projects going on. and I need to set up my portfolio again. I'm kinda giving me until the end of my portfolio preparations before considering quitting.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Thanks :D

[snapdragon76.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not in the art field, so I really wouldn't know what the best way to proceed with it would be. I know my mom is wanting to eventually make an income with her photographs and I know it's been pretty difficult to get that off the ground at this point...

Good luck in whatever you decide to do...

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wanted Mars to look classy. I loved how in the manga, her personality was quiet, mysterious, princess like... The anime made her more into a rich bitch then a quiet, lonely introvert.

I would love that. Please, please, if there is a god of drawings...

[snapdragon76.livejournal.com]

Well, the director is the same one who directed the first Twilight movie, so there's a good reason for the Twilightesque feel to it.

Me, I wanna see it for Amanda Seyfried. I love her...

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Yeah, luck. That's something else artists need.

Gah, if only it wasn't so hard, amiright?

Give your mom my best encouragements!

[sockefeller.livejournal.com]

Pffaaaahhh! haha, thank you! I'm super new to all this stuff though, so I'm still feeling it all out (and I've never really made any money off my drawing before in my life -- er, which is still true). But likewise, totally! You've got a really great work ethic and a really appealing style, you should definitely give it a chance and get a book out there. :)

Are you on twitter? I've met tons of people through that, and it's a good way to get your links and whatnot spread around.

[snapdragon76.livejournal.com]

Indeed. This is a reason why I'd never make it as an artist. For one thing, I have no talent. I mean, I take a few decent photographs and stuff, but not where I could make a living from them.

Plus, due to my health issues, I'd need a job with benefits. Which is why I'm in the job I have now. For the health benefits.

And I shall! From one artist to another!

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Well, you're still getting great buzz for your art, and that's a really good step forward. Try presenting stuff to editors! :D

Thanks for all the compliments! I'm really touched!

I'm on twitter. I don't update it much, or use it for research, which is very bad. :( It's secondlina there too! http://twitter.com/Secondlina. What's yours?

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

And hey know you'll get free room and board and food when you and Megs come down to my place so that will save a few bucks. ^_~ ( I owe you for the time anyway. XP)

*goes back to watch the video for the fourth time*

[sockefeller.livejournal.com]

I'm at "emilyterrible"! Just added you. And there are tons of cartoonists and comic folks on there, it's really helped me find people and share work.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Wow, you have a ton of artists following you! Hah, I told you people though you were awesome! :D Because you totally are!

Thanks for adding me! :D

[ichiban-victory.livejournal.com]

Storyboards are literally mini comics, and when put on a computer and put to dialogue or music, you have the ultra amazing animated comic! That's pretty much what my silly animated comic was, just storyboarding...gone to the extreme with color and such. It's not hard putting such things to music or dialogue either. I'm wondering if they used Flash for this storyboard reel, but regardless, a simple video editing program would do the trick. (And again, you have such things waiting on Artemis!)

I agree that Wicked would be better animated than made into a live-action film. I'd rather stare at all 2D characters instead of some that are real actors, then seeing others as CG characters. No matter the technology, having to act against something that isn't there doesn't work so well for a lot of actors (unless they have completely awesome directors, like in the first Narnia movie.) Doesn't hurt that the lyricist, Stephen Schwartz has worked for Disney. Now to get the author on board with the idea! ;) And if people freak out about Wicked being produced under a "kiddie" label, Disney has Touchstone for a reason. It worked for Who Framed Roger Rabbit!

(By the by, they also borrowed from the Pocahontas soundtrack. Guess who wrote the lyrics for that?) :D

If Pascal's able to do more supporting now that he has a job in his field, I say take his advice. Great art is not made when one has a soul-sucking job, after all! Take it from me, after more than a few soul-sucking jobs, I stopped drawing for nearly a decade before I overcome such things and regained any sort of drive, or ability to tap back into my rusty talents. You don't want that. I still haven't regained the level I was at back in high school, so I still have a ways to go.

artist career

[cookio.livejournal.com]

I think you should give drawing a chance. That is what makes you happy, you're good at it, and you have the full support of the most important person in your life. Now is the time to take risks, before you have kids and a mortgage. And if Link could land the job he was looking for, there should be no reason for you not to do so. So do it!

[lonehanyou.livejournal.com]

Do you draw using a drawing pad on the computer, or do you usually use a sketch book? I am SO jealous of your art skills! I think I'm a fairly decent artist...but no where near as talented as you. Got any tips? :D

[rose.livejournal.com]

Yessss! I completely agree with Pascal! Provided you have a support system in place (and they are prepared)-- I'd definitely try looking for part-time and focusing on your art! Sacrifices will always be necessary but they CAN bring you places. <3

[midoriri.livejournal.com]

Fanart: Lovely as always! I love Sailor Moon!

Video: jfdhgjfhgdofjgfkldj *geekgasm*

[elfgrove.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, I think it would be a crying shame if you didn't make a solid effort towards becoming a "professional" artist of some format. But do what feels right to you when it works for you.

... O_O Sailor Moon. Silver Millennium Sailor Moon. *dies from awesome* Your sketches are gorgeous--as always.
My entire draw to Sailor Moon is the Silver Millennium stuff that is basically all just hinted at. TT_TT
I'm so obsessed with the Silver Millennium and the Golden Kingdom of Elysion. *sigh* Why you no give me more Naoko...?

[kuridee.livejournal.com]

Yes! I need it in my life! It's so pretty. *A*

OIC. Would you quit altogether, or just switch to part-time?

[elle-white.livejournal.com]

That storyboard animation is truly a beautiful. I would love for this movie to exist!

I love that Sailor Moon picture! It's so adorable!

[kitesareevil.livejournal.com]

Sailor Moon is still my favorite show. <3 Thank you!!!

[kitesareevil.livejournal.com]

Wait, this icon is better...

[brendala.livejournal.com]

That Wicked storyboard kicked butt! I really hope that, if Wicked ever gets turned into a movie, it gets the 2D animation treatment. Traditional animation would suit that story very well. And animating Wicked would make it way easier to get all the original Broadway actors back (since things like the actors' ages and their locations/schedules aren't as problematic if they only have to do voice-overs).


As for the part-time vs full-time dilemma....If it were me, that would depend on if the part-time job would net me enough cash to survive if I go a few months without getting any art commissions. If the part-time job doesn't pay enough to survive on, I'd stick with the full-time job for now.
However, keep in mind that I have a crushing fear of poverty due to some bad experiences with it as a kid. So take my advice with a grain of salt. :P

[brendala.livejournal.com]

Speaking of animated storyboards, some animatics from two episodes of Mission Hill that were scrapped just shy of being animated have been leaked online. I kinda wish they had found a way to finish the series this way. The storyboard art coupled with the improv-esque voice acting is really fun.

[brendala.livejournal.com]

In case you're interested, one of the storyboard eps leaked online is the one where Gwen and Andy officially get together (and it's AWESOME):

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvkx2jnwzim&feature=related>

[spankingfemme.livejournal.com]

The storyboard animation was cool :) I've always wanted to do something like that to! One day... I hope. For now, I think setting my goal to learn the coloring process on a computer will be a good first step ;)

As for part-time to start fulfilling your artistic destiny? If you can afford it, why hold yourself back? You are a very talented young woman that has the motivation to push yourself up and do what you REALLY want to do while getting PAID for it! Go for the gold baby! God hates a coward ;)

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I figure the Emerald City doesn't have much in the way of guards because most of the threats it faces are magical rather than physical.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Yeah. And then, they have Glinda and Ozma.

Exclusive interview with Heidi Jo and her video.

[theateradvisor (from livejournal.com)]

We interviewed Heidi about her work and psoted her video to our blog. Take a look and find out what inspired her to create this terrific video at

http://blog.theateradvisor.com/if-wicked-the-musical-were-an-animated-film/

And if your a fan of theater, stop by www.theateradvisor.com and post a review.

The TheaterAdvisor Team

Re: Exclusive interview with Heidi Jo and her video.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Hey, cool! Thanks for the tip! I love all her art too! I took the time to read a lot about her after posting this!