animation techniques

As you can see from this video, made on Toon Boom V.3, that the balls squash and stretch are rather exaggerated. In real life a ball would not quite bounce like that or squash like that, its exaggerated for comic effect.
You will find this technique is proven quite popular amongst animators, its helps make an object seem 'alive'. Though for rigid objects like chairs and tables this rule does not apply, unless it is the wish of the animator to make them 'alive' in such a way that it requires a squash and stretch.

Disney, though a fan of realism, tended to make use of squash and stretch techniques to make objects, characters and cartoons have a more comic effect that the audience would like. He started this trend with the seven dwarfs, giving their movements are more comic feel.

Arcs:
But another aspect of this animation is the curve or arc that it is following. Object dont move in straight lines. For example, if you move your arms from your head to you side its an arc movement you make. So by giving your objects an arc to follow its make more realistic. For comic effect the arc may be discarded, but it has to be done very well otherwise the audiences wont like it.

One thing to remember whilst animating is that whatever you animate will keep the same volume as when you started. It doesn't change, if it does halfway through your animation your audience will notice and it will be taken as a mistake.

Exaggeration:

Exaggeration is used to express a characters range of emotions and characteristics. But as the rule for stage goes;
'exaggerate you actions and re-actions by 10'
The same rule applies for animations. The reason we do this is simple, its makes it easier and clearer for an audience to understand that a character is expressing an emotion. Like anger, if they a really angry they will tend shrink into themselves, shaking and their entire face going red, or the ever so popular steam coming out of the ears, like we do this in reality-no, but it does get across the point of anger as well as adding a comic effect to it all.
But then again this element has got to have a balance, although it is good to exaggerate certain scenes or emotions, take care not to do it too much as important scenes that require little actions and more sympathy will be drowned and wont make any impact at all.
So balance is also a required element.

Anticipation:

Anticipation, a technique used to prepare the audience for what is about to happen next. There are 3 stages:

-before
-the action
-the end

As stated before it usually used to prepare an audience for what is about to happen, usually before an important event. For example, when someone is about to throw a ball there goes back in arc, then forward again, then at the peak of the throw/arc they let go.
How do we know what action they are doing, through anticipation. By watching where his arm is going we assume the next course action, which be throwing.
But not only do we anticipate from these actions what will happen, we anticipate how it will happen. If the throw is done with sheer force (for example in a game of baseball) you see the body curl into itself then let go with amazing speed hurling the ball forward. We anticipate from the persons body action the speed and strength of the throw.

This applies for all actions, whether they be big or small in animation. Anticipation is an important technique that allows the viewer to get more involved with the animation itself.

Eva character design

Its again a rough sketching of Eva, she does need work but for now this is how she appears in my head. Well maybe not exactly but very close. The book i notice is very tiny! Maybe she's a fantastic reader XD oh well.

Finished script

Yey my script of No Way is finaly finished.
It feels a tad rushed, but its done. The ending is slightly different from what we had discussed and i had problems with what to fill the middle of our script with.

You see when we talked about it in class, we came up with the idea-
-dark comedy

Who about?
-originaly about us, soon changed to 3 students

Who are the character based on and what is the one thing that makes them, them?
-They are based on us
-My character Amy (me) is completely obssesed with the 360
-Lynnes character Eva, not sure if it was pc or an ipod she was obssesed about
-Maui character Kai, obsessed with Manga

What about?
-Living together

What was the main factor that pulled the story together?
-Haunted home

Ok so how will it end?
-each student will die

How will they die?
-Stupid and completely unrelated to a haunting

So as you can see we worked backward a little and made it difficult to fill in the middle. I hope the script it to the groups liking and reads well.

Lip Synching and walk cycle.

This is actually a link to my first year animation. It demonstrates my attempt at a walk cycle and lip synching. It's not particularly great but does what it says on the tin.
This was was done on Toon Boom V.3:


About lip synching:
Lip synching on toon boom was fairly easily done. It was a case of uploading the sound onto the software and drawing the letter recommended for each vowel/sound. Lip synching is done on the theory that each word you speak has many different shapes and sounds. So to break it down for animators they broke the shapes down into letter like; A,E,O,V and so on, these are common shapes the mouth uses when speaking and so the basics are covered.
But there is more to lip synching than just shapes. There is also expression, emotion and atmosphere and characteristics. Such as anger, when something is said in anger that sentence tend to get more tense and aggressive and is very different from a happy one. If a character has a stutter or a lisp it makes it more difficult to animate as you have to animate both the stutter/lips as well as the sentence.
So you can see that it perhaps isn't the easier job to do but toon boom helps in making the process easier.

Walking:
Walk cycles, tedious and annoying at times but still has to be done in order to create a realistic walk. There are several frames in a walk cycle and to miss even on makes the walk unrealistic and jumpy. You can tell from a few scenes in my own animation how it looks when even one is missed out. Another point is that you dont move the figure across the screen, in fact you keep it still, moving on the spot. But what you do move is in fact the back ground, this gives the impression of a moving figure.

Kai sketch

as you can guess this is my sketch of Kai.
Very rough and basic, needs a bit more work.

Flash vs Toon boom

Well what can i say, I only really used flash once or twice in first year. I was then introduced to Toon boom. I have used Toon boom ever since. My simple reason being that i found it much easier to navigate than flash.

Why?
-Firstly Toon booms interface is a lot more user friendly. Its clearly labelled where everything is.
-The interface itself is much easier to use simply because its outlined for you. You have your layers (reminds me photoshop), exposure sheet, onion skin, lip synching tool, camera tool and the painting tools, all there for you.

Whereas with flash i found it much harder to navigate. Instead of an exposure sheet you have a timline, this i couldn't get my head round. Its clearly labeled where everything is and does not have the lip synching tool. This is more time consuming.

Though flash does have its pros:
It seems to respond better to my graphics tablet
-the drawing come out better
-The colouring looks better
and is faster to use, even though it doesn't have a lip synching tool.
-and it can be used for a web design module as it allow for that as well.

So although flash seems more complex its actualy just down to preference and ease of use.
I still prefer toon boom, its easier to use i understand what i am doing and i dont get confused with which layer or slot i am in as it has the onion skin an layers, that as said before is klike using photoshop. The lip synching tool also help to speed up the process.

Some prefer flash and will swear by it, i will use toon boom.

Suprise suprise

Tonight i decided to look for some downloadable sound effects for the final animation. I went to search for thing i was sure of that would be used. Like walking and the fire.
I thought it would take me ages but it really didn't.

I came across a gem of a site to download everything you could ever possibly need for animations.

http://www.sounddogs.com/catsearch.asp?Type=1

This website is free to use, plus it provides EVERYTHING!
when i say everything i mean everything! from babies crying to atmosphere and ambience. Every effect you could ever possibly need is here and free for you to use.

I highly recomend this website to anyone who wishes to continue in animation and finds it difficult to acquire certain sounds. I have a already downloaded quite a few that i think i will be needed in our final animatic.

Creative animation - final stop motion idea

As you can probably tell from the title this post is about my final animation idea for creative animation.

I originaly had three idea:
- Opera done i plasticine
- Sand on glass about the exotic
- Ninjas and a warrior monk done with Stikfas.

I went for the stikfa idea. Seems more interesting and within my abilities to do.
Sand glass, though was a nice idea seemed a bit too adventurous, if it went wrong i wouldn't have enough time to correct it.
My plasticine idea well just lacked any interest at all.

But with the stikfa idea i plan do it on my computer desk, to emphasise how small they are, and it will be called 'The tiny ninjas!'.

I dont have a script right now, but i will laydown the basics of idea here. You know o organise it.

It starts of two ninjas in a stare out. Both have weapons and both are fighting for their territory. One ninja (we shall call him 'whitey') starts to make his fighting stance, preparing for battle.
The other (we shall call him darkness) watches whitey as he prepare. Darkness pulls back his throwing weapon and hurls towards whitey. Quickly Whitey deflects that attack and rushes in with a barrage of attack combos. Kicks, punches you name it.

An epic battle ensues as run across the desk, jumping obstacles, trying to gain higher ground and destroy each other. Eventualy they begin to tire and take a quick breather, though never once removing their eyes from the other, for fear of foul play.

Just as they are about to launch into another epic battle, a warrior monk appears standing ontop of the montior. HIs arms folded majesticaly as he looks down at the young ninja and shakes his head.

"Stupid ninja, if you are going to destroy you enemy do it, stop wasting time with fancy martial arts!"

As he is speaking he leaps of the monitor and inbetween the ninja where he pulls out his sword and with an almighty swing in a circular motion goes to kill both ninja. There is a dramatic pause, he has won, the monk, wise beyoned his years has won...

Whitey: Dude, if you're going to pull of stunts like learn to aim!

He missed completely! As Whitey is speaking Darkness takes rushes forward and boots the warrior monk out of the way.

Darkness: Dont interfere!

The two ninja are now facing one another, the warrior fallen of his ass and staring up at them.

Warrior: you are good, but i am afraid i cannot let you leave...this pc is mine!!

The two ninja stare at him in disbelief, all the time they thought it was just an empty pc desk, but here all this time was this warrior monk. Grinning both ninja turn to each other as the warrior gets to his feet.

Darkness: Guess we have to beat him first!

Whitey: Guess so

Pulling together they charge at teh warrior...end?!

Will we ever know what happens..maybe we will if it turns out to be too short!

Eva (lynne) Profile and rules

Name: Eva

Age: 23

Job: IT Technician

Personality:
Eva is a smart individual, cold at times and often kind of stand offish. Though she does a fun streak, but its not as loud nor as obvious as Amy's or Kai's. But still its there.
She loves to read and is always seen reading something. BUt she alos loves her ipod and never leaves home without it. Eva is very down to earth and has a lot of patience, she deals with Amy most of the time.

Appearance:
Eva has purple hair, a deep shade but you can still see it. She has tied up at the back with two stray hairs at the side of her face. She has sharp grey eyes that are behin a pair of thin purple glasses. Eva wears a plain strippey t-shirt with pale blue denim jeans that have tears at the knees. She wears a set of black heeled boots and has pale skin like Amys.

History:
Eva has lived her parents, but never really paid any attention to them. She lived up in her room with electronics. Her ipod that has 50gb, her pc and just all the things she loved. She worked to get into university and worked hard to graduate.
Through uni she met Kai and Amy and becamse quite close. When the time came, when she got her job she moved in with Amy and Kai.

Rules:
-Always reading
-Always carrying her ipod
-Walks rather staright or 'tall'...with pride

Character Profile and rules for Kai

Name: Kai

Age:24

Job: artist, specialising in digtial art.

Personality:
Cool calm and collected. Thats Kai down to a Tee. He is stylish, stylish in his work, dress and in himself. He is just a stylish person. Though, somtimes he can be a little...'blonde' at times. But despite his blonde moments he is still popular with his friends, even though he is bit arrogant at times. He is quite playful.
He is also in love with Manga, he does have a cupboard full plus shelving.

Appearance:
As stated before he is rather stylish, he has light brown hair that falls just above his green eyes. He has few red tinges in the ends of his hair and wears a set of rather expensive headphones. He wears a white shirt with a small ying/yang symbol on the pocket of the shirt. he wears black jean with a set converse trainers and chain that hangs from the belt loops.

Bio:
Kai came from a popular family, not so much rich but just a family that was well known and well liked. Due to his family being continously liked and being very well known they had a lot of favours done for them. So they never really had to struggle. Kai lived at home with his parents during highschool but the moment he was able to live his own he did. During university he met Amy and Lynne
and decided that once they finished uni they would move in together once they got jobs, seeing as they all get on well.

Rules:
-Kai always wears his headphones
-always seen with his art book
-Walks in slinky cool guy walk
-Likes to pick on amy

(Hopefully a picture will come here soon)

House design

Originaly i was going to design the house on the sims 2 pc game, simply because i felt you would get better understanding of how the house looked in my head through the use of the simulator, and not through my crappy drawing. I may still do this idea!

1st Floor - upon entering - sorry you cant see the keys i have drawn to show what everything is.

2nd Floor

Balcony and bar

Character Rules and bio (Amy)

Name: Amy Tedachi

Age: 23

Job: Game developer

Appearance:
She stands at 5'7, slender and looks like a bit of tom boy. She has long black hair with two red clips on the right hand side of hair, keeps her fringe away from her face.
She has a pale complexion with sea blue eyes to which she outlines with black eyeliner, but thats about all the make up she wears.
She wears a tight black tank top with '666' typed onto in red/silver. To match the current theme of black she has black 3 quarter length trousers with buckles trailing off the fabric and knee high boot with buckles to match.

History:
Amy lived with her parents throughout highschool and university, wear she studied game development and met Lynne and Kai. Thay have become her closest friends. Now that she ahs acquired a job with her choosen career and is finaly earning more money than she know what to do with she decides, with Kai and Lynne, that they should move in together.

Personality:
Boisterus, and hyper. She is energetic and often sarcastic (seems to take it out mainly on Kai). She likes to have fun, though she takes her gaming very seriously, do not disturb her when she is playing her 360, her anger is something that not even the devil wants to witness.

RULES:

-Amy is always seen with some gaming device (DS, PSP, 360...)
-Fights with Kai (as friends do - playfully)
-Whines to Lynne
-Oblivous to the obvious

Amy's quote: Love me or hate, i'm here to stay!

(An image has been drawn for amy, but scanner is still bad so i have taken picture with my camera on my phone...not the best qaulity but will do till i come to a scanner)

(this is all i can think off for now, this post will be edited. I will say that it has been so when it is)

No way animation, story (my version)

Okies, firstly my scanner is still being mean so no piccies tonight. Though currently i do have a sketch of how i feel the house will look like on the outside and some floor plans. In my version of our characters home there are three floors, plus the underground dungeon. I currently have images in my sketch book of the floor plans, outside design and my main characters' (Amy) room in more detail. Hopefully i will get a new a scanner to bombard this journal with images.

No way Animation!

Int. – Typical coffee shop – 10am

Two friends (Amy and Lynne) are currently sitting at a table with their drinks. One is reading the news paper and the other is tapping her fingers on the table in irritation.

Amy: Aaaagh when is Kai gonna get here? Am so bored!

Lynne: You are so impatient. (Fixes her glasses back onto her face)

Amy: Whatever Lynne, you found anything in that news paper you seem to be so interested in? (Leans over the table and peers over the edge of the paper)

Lynne: -sighs- Look here comes Kai now. (She nods in his general direction)

Amy turns her head and watches as Kai enters the coffee shop, he is wearing fashionable long coat and fashionable headphones. He walks over to where the girls are sat and pulls up a seat.

Kai: Yo! (Slides his head phones around his neck)

Amy hits him the shoulder and Lynne merely waves at him from behind the news paper.

Amy: You’re late!

Kai: I am always late (grins as he hits her back)

Both Amy and Kai and carrying on, play fighting and teasing one another. Mean while Lynne grabs a pen a circles a home for sale as she places in front of them.

Lynne: Guys, this house looks so cool. It’s huge, plus no one has bought it yet and it’s really cheap.

*On the newspaper article about the home:

7 Unsolved murders, said to be haunted!

None of them seem to notice the rather nasty warning about the house and simply stare at the picture.

Amy: Seriously? Wow sweet, it looks great.

Kai: Seconded, I say we contact our real estate agent and arrange a viewing.

Lynne: Totally!

EXT. – Outside the house – 4pm

All three friends are standing outside the house at the gate, their real estate agent.

Real Estate Agent: Did you know this house once used to a church?

All three together: Nah / No.

R.E.A: You do know this home is supposed to be…..well you know?

Kai: It supposed to be what? (Genuinely doesn’t know)

R.E.A: (looks at them funny and nervous) Well…haunted!

All three together: NO WAY?!

Amy: So cool

R.E.A: I don’t think you quite understand.

Lynne: We’ll take it (as if nothing happened)

R.E.A: What?

Kai: You heard her, now give us the keys, oh and the deed to please.

Their agent grudgingly takes their money and hands them the keys and they deed to the house. She leaves as the three friends enter the home, which has a grave yard lingering in the garden, and decide to settle themselves in.

***************************************************

INT. – Inside the haunted house – 6pm

They drag their luggage into the home and have a good look about. The inside is rather large and quite impressive. A normal looking, church type home.

Kai: *Whistles as he looks about* Neat!

Amy: Yeah, I love it!

Lynne: *Staring at a random painting, which has moving eyes* Very nice

Just as they are getting settled the light blow and they are placed in entire darkness.

Lynne: huh the lights blew a fuse

Kai: Lets go down to the basement and find the fuse box.

Lynne: No torches

Amy: So? Whats the worst that could happen?

All three head down to the basement, no lights, no torches no matches no nothing. Just themselves alone in a haunted home.
As they head down towards the basement things begin to happen, like a gust of wind behind them.

Kai is currently leading the way, Amy and Lynne are walking together when a small gust of wind tickles the back of their neck. Both stop with eyes wide open. Both pause then crinkle their faces as they smell something horrid.

Amy: Aww Kai did you crack one?

Kai: Haha Yeah sorry ladies.

Lynee: Honestly Kai, change your diet.

They continue, they hadn’t felt the gust of wind. They come to the bottom of the stairs where the flooring changes to stone.

Kai: Guess the decorators got lazy

Lynne: Seems that way

They continue onward, in the semi dark, for some reason there are candles which lit down here. They head towards where they hope to find the fuse box.

Amy: Strange, look at the candles

Lynne: What about them?

Amy: Well this place is supposed to be old and yet the candles are new…*grabs a hold of one of the candles* look see Ikea brand!

Lynne - (looks at the bottom of the candle and smiles ) Well would you look at that.

Kai: come on ladies, or I am gonna leave you behind.

Amy: whatever! *puts the candle back*

In the meantime they have yet to notice the shadow drifting behind them. As they continue to walk, Kai taking the lead and Eva (Lynnes character has now been named Eva) at his heels, Amy wonders behind them taking in the dungeon surroundings.

Slowly as Amy is wondering, the shadow creep up to her. An eerie feeling brushes through Amy's hair, she pauses for a moment and shrugs it off.

Amy: Must be a draft somewhere

She continues to walk on when the shadow, looks like a typical ghost, enters her body - Possesion. Her once again come to stop where her eyes look empty and lifeless. Kai and Eva haven't noticed at all and keep walking.

Eva: Amy, what's taking you so long, geez hurry up.

Kai notices the fuse box and and grins as he walks closer to it.

Kai: Found it. Ok Eva fix the lights!

Eva: WHAT?! why me? i dont wanna be electrocuted, you do it!

Kai: But i dont know anything about these things...hold on, you dont wanna be eletrocuted but you are more than happy for me to be electrocuted?!

Eva: Ok ok, i'll walk you through, just quit whining

Whilst they are arguing about who should fis the lights, Amy's body is floating in the air. Her body climbing up walls, doing flip in the air standing on the ceiling. All that crazy stuff ghosts usually do.

Kai: I need some form of light....hey Amy, bring one of those candles would you?

Amy:....

Amys body starts to drift closer to him, in that eerie ghost like manner.

Kai: Amy stop fooling around, i need a candle!

In his frustration he turns round to yell at her some more, his hand flailing at the same time. By accident he smacks her on the face and knocks her to the floor, knocking the shadow out of her body. The shadow rubs the side of its face floats away, a look of pain and sadness on it face.

Amy: huh...oww what was that for?

Kai: I asked nicely, now bring the candle and hurry up!

Amy: Sheesh, you didn't have to hit me.

Amy: (mutters) You didn't even ask the first time...i think

As she goes to get the candle she has the feeling that something happened, she just couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Amy: Meh whatever

Grabbing the ikea brand candle she takes it over to Kai and hold it over the fuse box so he can see.
Kai plays around with the wires, Eva helping as best she can. After some time and few shocks they finaly get the lights to come back online.

Eva: Finaly some proper light

Kai: it just needed some love, ok so lets go back up.

They close the fuse box and head back up the stairs, away from the dungeon. When they come back upstairs.

**********************************************************************

Scene 3
Int. Back on the 1st floor of the house. 8pm

The guys back on the 1st of the house, their suitcases lying on the floor where they were left. As they stand in the room Amy is busy dusting herself off, Kai is heading towards his stuff and Eva is once again looking around.


Eva: Kinda weird how the light blew


Amy: Yeah, that was odd, maybe its haunted -she starts to make ghost faces and sounds at Eva-


Eva: -rolls her eyes- Uh-huh, yeah cause ghosts totally exist


Kai: -turns around to face Eva and Amy- Oooo that would be funny, oooooo -he starts to wave his ams in the air like a ghost-


Both Amy and Kai have started acting like ghosts, randomly swaying around Eva. They haven't that their suitcases have now been tipped to the ground and their clothes scattered.


Eva: Seriously guys, quit it


Kai: Oooo you scared of ghosts?!


Eva: stop it, Now!..Look you're making a mess -points to the suitcases-


They both stop to look at the suitcases, Amys' eyes widen in horror. Quickly she darts over to her suitcase.


Amy: Thats not funny...how dare you?


Kai and Eva: How dare we what?


Amy: -dart them a glare as she hugs her 360 elite- how dare you abuse my 360 so.
-starts to talk to her 360- Dont worry you're ok


Kai: it wasn't us Amy, and it just a ...

Before he could even finish his sentence, she grabs her stuff and storms up the stairs, leaving Kai and Eva downstairs.


Eva: Touchy isn't she?


Kai: yeah...though if it were my manga i would probably be pissed as well


Eva: i know, but we didn't do anything


Kai shrugs and starts to pack up his clothes again. Eva does the same and both head up the stairs.


Kai: Lets get our rooms and stuff

*************************************************************
Scene 4.
Int-2nd floor, Amy's room-10pm

Most of Amy's stuff is still packed away in boxes. The only things that are unpacked are her HD television, her 360 and DMC 4. Her favourite game for the 360 and the one she is absolutely obssesed with.
She is playing frantically, her legs crossed, leaning forward and completely focused on her game.


Amy: hurry and die already! Cant believe i have to kill you again!! DIE!


These are the only screams you hear from her room, well that and the battle music from DMC.
As she is playing and getting to the part where the boss she is trying to kill is about to die, her 360 dies! 3 little red lights appear on her machine and her game is lost forever...the ring of death has struck.
There is a pause of silence as her eyes completely widen, her jaw dropping to the floor as she drops the controller.


Amy:...n...n...NO....NO!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

****************************************

Scene 4
Int.Kais room, 2nd floor.11pm

Kai was originaly sorting his manga from the box they were packed in when Eva came through with her pc so he could help set it up with her. Believe it or not she another person to help her.
Whilst in the midst of setting the pc up they here a high pitched scream from Amys' room and both look at each other worried.


Kai: What the hell?


Eva: No idea, let go and....

But just as she was to say lets go and see, Amy burst into the room and ran straight into Kai. Who at the time was drinking a glass of milk. Whilst running into him he dropped his milk on the pc wires which cause an unusually large fire to start. Kai jumped back from the fire taking Amy with him, Eva however merely fell to her knees as she watched her beloved pc on fire.

Eva:My pc....my pc....

Kai: Shit...what the hell Amy?...

There was no time for answers , the fire very quickly spread to Kais precious manga collection and started to burn them up. His jaw dropping he jumped into the fire with the impulse to save his precious manga.

Kai: MY MANGA!

Amy: my 360!

Eva: My pc!

in the end the fire took the whole house and everything and everyone with it.

****************************
Scene 5
Int.Coffee shop.9am

3 young students are sitting at a table, looking for a place to live. The take note of one article:


*On the newspaper article about the home:
9 Unsolved murders, said to be haunted!

One of the students: Hey this house seems to be available!

End.

By Natasha Nathani

Changes to blog

Aaagh, ok after a long debate today in class with Maui, Lynne, Tom and Peter we finaly decided that rather than draw and create characters that would not contribute to the group animation we would use our individual blogs for our own personal ideas that will contribute towards the final animation.

From now my blog will be about my contribution, ideas sketches and sound contribution will go here and any final decisions will go to the 'nowayanimation' blog.
Check the links below.

From doing this we hope to acheive reflection on ideas, creativity and development on both individual and group work.

Cheers, over and out...for now!

Technical difficulties

The background for my story, or at least the brief outline for my story, was done this evening. However due to my scanner not being as brilliant as others refuses to scan the image.
This is rather frustrating as it is required to put on this online journal, so in the meantime i will have to either get a new scanner or find somewhere else to scan my designs.

Todays progress:

in todays class i sat with my group, Lynne and Maui (we decided to keep it small for the simple reason easier to work with a smaller than it is with larger ones) we came up for the base of our final animatic, or at least a path on which to base our story on.
But in order to keep i organised and reflect others ideas we created a group blog called
'No way animation' or in my links list below; Group animatic.
This way each of us can pitch our idea, comment and edit accordingly without it getting chaotic and messy.
Check our group link out.

Production:
The character design for Luna is underway, her basic frame has been drawn along with the background and one of the other characters; Belial. Though a stated before i will not be able to upload any pics until the problem with the scanner is sorted, hoping to have that fixed very soon.

But for now i will write down Belial's basic profile of who he is:

Belial is being of intelligence, it is unknown as to how long he has lingered on this earth, but one thing is for certain. Though he may look young, he has in fact seen many a thing. It is rumored that he has been here for centuries. He is dark and shifty, untrustworthy. Yet he here he remains within the circus, this is rather peculiar. For with his skills or talents some might say he could have easily left for his own gain by now. Yet he stays, though keeping a very close eyes upon Luna.
This very fact beckons the question, for what purpose are you here and why? What are you planning?

Belials talents: Agility and shifting.

Belial is perhaps the most darkest character in my story, he is elegant and rich yet dark at the same time. Perfect for my story. I am looking forward to posting pictures of him and the others up as soon as my scanner is working, i also intend to post the original story in all its glory.
Should be an interesting read.

The story

The story i am planning on for this particular module is called "Dark Circus". It is set in a run down town that doesn't have much money to its name. In this town there are some old tethered tents with some rather old flags, you know the usual circus decoration. But it is not what is on the outside that counts in this story, what counts is what lies inside.
Inside these tents lie 'gifted' beings that perform, some have wings that shimmer and flutter, others can vanish at whim and some are just plain weird.
You are lead around the circus by the ring leader, the one in charge of the entire circus. Her name is Luna. She is short, has a crazy hairdo that is bright green with a red and yellow stripped suit. She wears a top hat and carries a staff.

Luna is rather eccentric and creepy as she giggles at almost everything we find frightening. Some may she is just insane, but here at the circus she is Luna. Respected and powerful.
Afterall she does run the Dark Circus.

At the moment this is but a taster of the story, as i begin to put drawings of character descriptions and settings, plots and what not you will begin to delve deeper into the world that is
'the Dark Circus'.