Almost let a week go by without a post! I have nothing specific to talk about; I should have some interesting casting news next week. I had better - we record the second movie the week after this! And maybe one of those long promised images will debut. But for now, a quick update on what is going on:
I finished giving notes on the rough storyboards of the first movie. The notes have gotten lighter as we move on which is how it's supposed to work. Everyone is finding the Hellboy groove. Most of the notes focus on Mignola-type staging, insert shots or breaking down an action in detail. The end effect will no doubt be subtle but I'm convinced that it keeps the project true to the comic and gives it a unique feel. Geez, I hope so.
Background painting is underway with our second artist starting in two weeks. Tracy Jones, our first color stylist will start this week as well as Vic Cook, my director on the second movie.
Most of the props of the first film are done. Art Lee is concentrating on effects while Andy Chiang moves onto the second picture. Character designer, AJ has burned through the back-views of the characters and now has to dive into the special poses. Special poses are the extra designs that we need because of action called for in the storyboards. For instance, if Hellboy tears his coat, we need a new model of it so the animators know not to use the untorn coat even if the storyboard artist forgot. More importantly, as in the comic, Hellboy gets trashed a lot. We'll probably need at least three versions of Hellboy in various stages of bloody and beaten. Then AJ has to churn out the mouth charts, model sheets that show how a character would say certain vowels and consonants. Most of the animators don't speak English, they refer to these charts. I'm amazed at the acting they pull off without understanding the language.
Ed and Jeff, the layout artists are onto the next movie, doing the equivalent of set building before the storyboarding starts. Most of the movie occurs in a single house but that doesn't mean there are fewer layouts; lots of rooms must be designed in "before and after" condition. I guess we're a little behind where we should be in character designs for the second movie but Cheeks has done concept art for most of the characters so the rough storyboards can begin with no problem.
Cleaned up storyboards of the first film are being scanned so that we can build the animatic of the movie, the still storyboard drawings set to the sound track. It's the first indication of how the movie is really flowing along with its overall length.
It's a little crazy with the two movies overlapping plus marketing/publicity planning is getting underway in earnest. Lots of cool stuff is being talked about from convention appearances, give aways, and promotions to toys, tshirts and DVD extras. No doubt some of the ideas will fall by the wayside but it's great to have a company excited about the project.
So consider yourself up to date on HELLBOY ANIMATED. -- Tad
Hellboy Jr. sculpture by Maija Graham
Hey Tad, all sounding good so far! I was just wonderin what plans you guys had (if any yet?) for the actual release of the films over here in the UK?
Posted by: Dominic Shaw | January 08, 2006 at 09:08 AM
As far as I know, the UK release hasn't been determined yet. MIPcom is next month. It's the international market for audiovisual content. I know IDT is planning a booth and presentation package for it so I'm guessing release dates will either be announced there or determined there.
Posted by: Tad | January 08, 2006 at 09:26 AM
Casting, eh? Can't wait to hear it. Thanks for the update, Tad.
Posted by: Typhon24 | January 09, 2006 at 02:04 AM
Hi, the movie, designs and everything you've showed us looks great, I have but one request:
Spanish subtitles, my guess is we won't see these babies here in Mexico and I'd really like to own them.
Posted by: Vicco Lizcano | January 09, 2006 at 09:32 AM
Would you folks be interested in additional storyboard help any time soon?? And if so, where or who should I be sending samples to??
Posted by: Dave | January 19, 2006 at 11:55 PM
We're staffed up barring bird flu or the plague. So we're set. If you're an animated professional in the LA area you can submit stuff to Film Roman (the animation union has the address) but there aren't any openings right now.
Posted by: Tad | January 20, 2006 at 01:09 PM