Lil' Leprechaun
More about the project...
This is a year-end project from my time spent at school. It is a short mock trailer for a game in the app store. Thus, something that is playable after clicking to “view more” about the app. It is has a 2D cartoon theme. So, the trailer shows a level in the game, and how it would be played. The game runs levels similar to what you would see in Super Mario Bros.
This is a solo project. The task was to find a software to further develop our skills around. With my high interest in motion graphics, I decided that route. All of the 2D character art is 100% created by myself in Adobe Illustrator. Finally, exporting through Adobe After Effects and rendering using Adobe Media Encoder.
Skills developed for the project...
Personal goals for the project...
Taking on this project was a big opportunity. I didn’t have much experience creating digital art. With the project being about a 2D cartoon game, this is a chance to develop the skill. Also, if you watch the video the leprechaun animation is smooth. Thus, that is another goal for the project. I am always wanting to further develop my knowledge around rigging and animating 2D characters.
Digital Art. I have always been fascinated with cartoons. With this opportunity, I could make my own. This is a challenge, involving the creation of a project with high detail. Therefore, I start with a storyboard. I learn the process and develop an organized plan. With that in mind, I then have to learn where to add highlights; Divide up the layers to allow everything to be animated properly; And how to create 2D characters.
Character Animation. This was a big challenge for me. We worked on some character rigging and animation in school, but I again, I am hungry to learn more. I want to take it to the next level and build something that can be presented on the app store. With that in mind, I study the use of compositions and their combination; As well as manipulating the anchor points of specific assets.
At the end of the day, my goals were met. I successfully pieced together the 2D animations. The digital art is presented cleanly and there are no issues in the rigging and animation of the final product. I finally topped the project off with some sound design. This can pull the consumer into the piece and keep them engaged.