Finished puppet and some props

World, meet Otto. Otto, world.

his hand!

He stills needs pupils...They're comin.

Test tube holder! Still needs to be painted.

Ladder for Otto's bookshelf. Also needs to be painted. I've got a few weeks till I shoot the observatory.

Even MORE set progress!

The port hole to the rocket! Positioning will be slightly different in the actual animation, but this gives you an idea.

The observatory is almost finished! Need to dress the set a bit more and age the walls.

More Set Progress

Inside the rocket! It's pretty much done... There are a couple things I might add to the wall, but for now I'm changing focus. (some of the gears are animatable).

Outside the observatory. This set is done, except I need to make a flying rig for the rocket.

Inside the observatory. This set needs more work... But it's on its way!

Set Progress!

I holed myself up for two days to make some leeway on sets. They're definitely coming along. Only working on the interior rocket and interior observatory for now.

First, the finished telescope, table and stool!

My makeshift work area...

Inside the rocket!

I changed the spacing of the control panel keys, but you get the idea!

close up of type writer "keys" as his control panel

Color of the observatory...It's going to be aged more. I just need to figure out whats going on inside first. Ha.

And Otto with his head finally cast! Just need to refine the seams and then finish his outfit!

Revised story

My final project evaluation made me take a step back and examine this project from a distance. I realized what was really important and interesting to me--Studying Otto's character, making his observatory and his rocket, understanding the reason he is an astronomer. I feel like I got caught up in story and forgot about that (and lost out on some needed logic according to some...).

So, I have another take on this project, using the same sets, same puppet, same shots (mostly), but a little more haunting. A twisted fairy tale, if you will. (voiced by a man with a strong Russian accent)

Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl (slow zoom in to obsewrvatory)

She was an ordinary girl (zoom in to Otto at his desk)

but he was no ordinary boy (otto writing, observing)

Other children played with marbles,

he collected them. (we see cluttered shelves and land on this marble "collection," displayed as a solar system model

While they milked cows,

he discovered the milky way (we pan across his notes)

They didn't understand him,

and he understood too much (more writing, observing, mannerisms)

And so he spent much of his time alone. (extreme wide shot of the observatory)

The girl didn't understand him either,

But she didn't have to. (Otto packs a picnic basket w bread, jam and prepares his samovar!)

They both understood the moon.

She for its beauty, he for its mystery (otto walks across observatory)

She longed to fly there.

But she knew it was impossible. (otto opens door leading to rocket, begins to go through it)

She died thinking that.

And so he vowed to prove her wrong.

Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl

She was an ordinary girl (inside rocket, preparing for take off)

but he was no ordinary boy. (blast off!)

fade out!

Otto Progress!

Well my papers are done, internships end this week and winter break is starting! It's time to go full throttle on set making and finishing my puppet!

I have actually gotten a teensy weensy bit done throughout the semester however. So here are some pictures to prove it!

Telescope, moon table and stool constructed with a base coat of paint applied!

telescope

Otto's armature

I still need to make his shoes.

...and I'm waiting to see if his head cast!

One set of hands done. But I'm going to pour a couple more. These will be back up.

Stay tuned to see what I get done once I'm free from all obligations!

Project Otto Storyboards: Round 2

I've revised the storyboard so that there is more movement within the shots. I think it's adding a lot of depth to the story!

We move through test tubes...

Over a moon rock...

And crates...

To Otto, who is writing down observations in his journal.

He takes a sip of water

Sets the glass down

And grabs a moon locket on his desk.

Finally removes his eye from the telescope to look at it.

A moment of reminiscence.

We dissolve on a match cut to 10-year-old Otto's hand.

Pannig up, we see Diana under a tree twisting a flower.

Otto gives her the moon locket.

We rotate around the tree...

And see Otto and Diana reading an astronomy book

Panning right we now see Otto and Diana playing with a make believe rocket.

Close on a sign that reads:

We pan up to Diana's face in the "rocket" looking at Otto

And "blast off!"

We pan up with Diana's jump to the starry sky.

And pan back down/zoom out to see Otto and Diana star gazing

Dissolve back to the moon locket

Otto sets it down and starts writing: "It's been 70 years since my parents told me..."

"Diana was sick and went to the moon to get better."

"I have searched for years." (Otto flips through the astronomy book.)

"But this is my last attempt to find her" (Otto crosses Diana's name off the rocket).

And we pan up to the starry sky

(And zoom out/down to Otto star gazing alone)"I'm going to the dark side of the moon."

We dissolve back to Otto signing his name "Otto Albertovich Numerov, 1918"

He sets the pen down.

With effort, Otto gets up from his chair.

Walks across the room

Through a door...

Otto flips switches and pushes buttons inside the rocket.

He pauses for a moment to look at the sign that used to be on his and Diana's play rocket.

And blast off!

We pan down as the rocket goes up...

To a graveyard where Diana's name is engraved.