Sihde: prelude on Newgrounds (soon)

Well with things the way they are, and my work cut out for me on the DVD series, I have also decided to add to my work load to get attention for the DVD release. Taking full advantage of the tools available to me, I have decided to allow Newgrounds to host the prelude story to Sihde. This story will give some initial background and foundation to the DVD series, setting itself after the Moscow Incident that made Eastern Europe a barren wasteland and during the World War that follows it. This wil be a flash animation and will only be the tip of the animation potential of the actual series, but if you really want to follow Sihde and it's official storyline, the first origin storywill get no more official to an actual running mini series as Sihde: Prelude. Watch this space and please rate the series when it starts

The evolution of charater

Brussels seems to have come full circle with his character design. When I origially envisioned the world of Manga Gothic, Brussels started out as a trench coat wearing goth with a Pumpkin for a head. Whilst the head remained, I found it harder to incorparate the trenchcoat into a 3D application and he eventually evloved into a biker with a T-shirt and small biker Jacket. But it just wasn't the Brussels I wanted. Only now I have recetly been able to overcome the trenchcoat issue and Brussels is now back to his old self, if not better in my opinion. As you can also see I have given Brussels as complete overhaul in Shaders as well.

Brussels wasn't the only character to go through a facelift either. In fact if any of the characters has changed the most, it is Raynah. From dark robed witch to glam goth witch, Raynah is by far the most evolved of the two main characters. Her last look was too innocent and bland, with a new face lift, a brand new hat and a new hair style I was able to create a more moody Raynah, with added pout. These are characters that the viewer will be living with from day to day so it's important that they look right and something they can relate to on a weekly basis (should the proposed series ever take flight). Anyway take a look below at the old, the new and the final products. Enjoy

Brussels and Raynah (1998)

Brussels and Raynah (Febuary 2008)

Slightly off topic

As most of you may know on top of the Manga Gothic Movie I have two other productions in the pipeline. The Tinsel City movie and the Ariel High School Devil-Girl OVA series. I am of course utilising DAZ-Studio and Anime Studio Pro as always. Trying my best to prove that affordable doesn't nessecarily mean cheap. Obviosly each new project needs a fresh perspective. A new apporoach and a new image. Thats always a difficult thing to achieve on any project. I always prided myself on being multi-styled with my work when I did 2D manga work. Covering all kinds of of styles and genres from Shonen aaction to shojo. The same must also apply with my animation work. Just when I was about to give up trying, as always with these issues for me some miricle shows up on my doorstep. It just goes to show that with some patience you always get what you need at least if not what you want:

http://forum.daz3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=70707

As you can see I have finally acheived the looks I need for all three projects. I just love the Toon effect I made for Ariel (See right) and I have deliberty tried to pull off some psuedo-Pixa look for Tinsel City (Above) all using DAZ-Studio and Anime Studio Pro. If you want the Shaders for DAZ-Studio you can find on the Daz-Studio forum at

Titles

Nothing to get too excited about but hey

East meets Goth

Always difficult coming up with an oriental twist in Gothic media. Keji of the Locust Clan was no different. He's been trhough a couple of changes today, and taken a special effects test run. The animation needs both refining and speeding up to create the Hadoken effect I am looking for, but thankfully ParticleFX comes up with a more than satisfactory swarm of locusts effects.


I have also been looking into the soundtrack today and Magnatune seems like a great place to get unique musice for the film particually from a band I've admired for a while, Artemis

Frost

Finally I found the perfect antogonists to the Manga Gothic three. Jack frost. Ironically it was both Neil Gaiman's Sandman and the Naruto Shippuuden soundtrack that inspired this misuderstood character. He is the very same Jack Frost in legend. His power is seemingly without limit and his ambitions as ambiguous as any of the Forever's, but he also seems the perfect rival for Brussels, who loves to push the envelope against anything or anyone.

I am currently working on two test scenes invloving this character. One for the opening sequence of the move and another involving a showdown between Frost and the Manga Gothic Trio, Raynah, Brussels and Eiko.

Manga Gothic Movie

I have decided to start this blog on the prduction of the Manga Gothic movie and OVA series. I have been utilising Daz Studio with Anime Studio and ParticleFX and am coming up with some very interesting if not satisfying results... but ahh for a more powerful computer...

One day....