Fantastic Voyage; OGR 01 [Topic, Research and Premise]
Hopefully you can see that I'm enthusiastic about this project, but I'm not entirely sure whether I'm onto something, or whether I'm barking up the wrong tree. There's a distinct lack of thumbnails or market research here, but I'm not shunning those; hopefully I should have that together very soon. I just wanted to get this out there before I dedicate too much time to a premise that may or may not stick.
OGR 14/03/2019
ReplyDeleteHey Tom - so, I think, as the dust settles on your OGR, we're left with a simple observation - which is that, in order to grasp the fundamental principles of evolution, you need a demonstration of it that sits outside of the actual case-studies more often used to teach it, and that you're looking for an alternate vocabulary that is 'more' articulate but also completely accurate. As I was reading, I was reminded of this animation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgqUya0kGPA
It feels to me that each time you reached out to another story universe (space/creatures/etc) you were worried that you'd pollute your pure principle with some other bit of narrative that might skew the lesson. My feelings are you could do this by dispensing with all of that additional 'language' and go for something completely abstracted - you establish a sort of 'start position' and then show that start position being impacted upon by time and experience and repetition and you show that start position shifting accordingly. For additional courage, take a look at the following...
Norman Mclaren:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3-vsKwQ0Cg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDFWuvhqHo4
Oskar Fischinger:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xc4g00FFLk
Walter Ruttman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3bmCgRDXmA&list=PLnuZTQf1M64zlWCuqf6g3iQ0FlGeByLl-
Michel Gagne:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVWKtXDvr04
I guess my suggestion is that you could determine an abstract language to reveal the principle without drawing on other more loaded concepts?
This is perfect! I love the style of the animations you've suggested, and I think you're right in identifying that I was looking for a medium that didn't come loaded with misdirection, exactly like that which you've shown me!
DeleteI really hadn't considered this, but I can envision a 'Disney Fantasia' style short that doesn't try too hard to establish a recognisable world or creatures, but uses simple anthropomorphic shapes to demonstrate the basic principles of natural selection.
In fact, I think this has just given me a major breakthrough. There's a videogame named 'Thomas was Alone' which famously made fantastic use of extremely simple anthropomorphised shapes as characters in a heartfelt story about friendship.
I think I'll take a look at that, alongside some of the artists you listed, and come up with some developed influence maps and thumbnails.
Good stuff! :)
ReplyDelete