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Writer's pictureIndal kp

A Complete Breakdown of a 2D Animated Short Film

Hey guys, have you ever thought about the birth of the universe and how everything came into existence? Well, I have and I decided to make a film about it. It's a story about the birth of two entities, "The Creator" and "The Destroyer".

 

They were born from nothingness, and the film explores their emotions and feelings as they experience the birth of the universe. It's fascinating to imagine the power and majesty of these almighty gods, and how they must have felt as they were brought into existence.



Short Film Trailer




Short Film Animatics


I decided to make two main characters for my story. first one something related to this nature-loving character, then a female version of this character, also they both must be some opposing or contradicting kind of beings, and of course, it should fantasy world. 

Solidifying Concept 

From the previous Rough Idea, I simplified my two characters as a protector and a destroyer. then I started thinking, how did this entire universe was formed. and how it is being governed. what could have created these beautiful nature, or all those things, I thought there must be a creator and a destroyer then I started reading different kinds of gods related mythology. And a little consideration of the scientific theory too(initially).





Final Story For Animation 

I wrote 4-5 version and keep updating throughout the entire film whenever I gets a better idea until post production.






After spending 2-3 months, I was still trying to come up with a satisfying ending for my short film. But no matter how hard I tried, the ideas just wouldn't come. I was growing more and more frustrated, feeling like something was missing from the story.

 

I had to make this film within 6 months, but I was struggling to keep it under six minutes, especially since I was doing everything myself. so, i knew at this rate, i won't be able to complete my film. about a month passed. still nothing sparked, at the end i decided to break the film down into three parts: setup, conflict, and resolution. And with that clarity, I was able to animate the world and characters of my story, bringing them to life in a way I never thought possible.

 

So if you're feeling stuck, remember that sometimes all it takes is a little bit of structure to get the creative juices flowing. You never know what you're capable of until you try.






This is the story of Omnikal and Inagaia, the two entities born from the womb of the universe. They were once inseparable, but their growth and evolution disrupted their balance, causing the womb to explode and separating them.

 

1000s of eons later, Omnikal, the being with red marks on his body, wakes up in the middle of space, surrounded by twinkling celestial objects. He discovers his ability to destroy these objects with a touch of his finger, and does so with curiosity and amusement.

 

At the same time, Inagaia, the green being, is floating in space and creating and nurturing green spirit eggs. She notices Omnikal's destruction and becomes angry, shooting towards him in retaliation. But upon seeing him, she forgets her anger and instead feels a connection with him, as their shining marks glow in sync.

 

Together, they create unknown creatures from the eggs and balls around them, and their newfound connection allows them to create and nurture the entire universe, filled with life and beauty. And with that, their adventure begins.






Character Design & Development  

 

 I wanted to create something unique and captivating. So, I started with some basic sketches, just getting a feel for the shape and proportions of my character.

 

At this point i was still not sure about my character design.........


  

 

 

 



 

 Moodboard    

 


  

Storyboard


 


 





So I was talking to my guide about my story and she was telling me how I messed up with one of the characters. Apparently, She told me that "the problem with your narrative is that you have brought it, this third character without any background, without any hint, so at a moment of conflict, he suddenly comes in so that doesn't work. you have to have hints of him. and you are lost with your ending, so what you can do is, you can have one as a force of destruction, one as a force of creation and the third character is able to harness these two forces and together build a new universe which is both creation-destruction coexisting then you will be sorted." and in the character design, she said that it needs solidity, right now it has a fragile body.


Concept Art

 

 

 

ANIMATICS   




PRODUCTION - Bring your characters to life

As an animator, I always start with the character animation. It's what brings the story to life and sets the tone for the film. For this project, I created a rough exposure sheet to pull everything together. This sheet includes all the instructions on how to make each scene, from the character's actions and timing, to the dialogue and music. I divided my basic exposure sheet into two parts , i..e actions and timing, although most artists do it in five.

 

After that, I focused on the character animation first and then tackle the backgrounds. Since the story takes place in space, there wasn't much of a need for elaborate backgrounds anyway.

 

Once all the character animation was complete, it was all about getting the rough animation done, then inbetweening and cleaning it up then followed by tracing it and coloring. It's a lot of work, but it's all worth it in the end when you see the final product come to life on screen.


Speedpaint



First, i import my storyboard frame into clip studio as a keyframe and animated using Straight ahead principle, according to my script and my vision.

 

Inbetweening is used to make a smooth animation by adding additional drawings between two frames. For example, if you want to create a bouncing ball scene, you should draw transitional frames between the first and the last frame.



 I did the clean-up for each frame as shown.

 

It can be done in two ways: either added a new layer on top and cleaned it up there, or I just went right over the same layer with different colors. It was a tedious process, but it was worth it to make sure my animation was as clean and polished as possible.


Animation Breakdown





Blender - Morph scene




Hey, so I just imported all the backgrounds, animated frames in sequence, into After Effects and I gotta say, it's made my life so much easier. I made two separate folders - one for my outline animation and one for my colored animation. It's been a game changer, trust me.

 

 

 

If you're a Clip Studio user, I highly recommend exporting your animation in these two separate layer folders. It'll save you so much time and hassle in the long run. Plus, Clip Studio is such a great animation software for beginners, so you can really take advantage of those layers to make your animations stand out. Give it a try, you won't regret it!





Played with color correction.. Then added some Glowing effect in After effect.

 

Combine them together and give a little finishing touch if needed using any editing software. In my case, I'm using Adobe Premiere Pro. It's pretty popular in the industry.


POST PRODUCTION - Editing and sound design for a polished final product

So, after the actual animation is done, it's time for post-production. That's when we add all the cool sounds and music to really make the animation pop. It's kind of like the icing on the cake, you know?

 

During the final editing process, I added after effect's rendered animation, sounds, and any other special effects that are needed into premiere pro. And once it's all said and done, we render it out and make sure it's ready to be shared with the world. It's a crucial step in the process, and it really can make or break the final product. But when it's done right, it's truly magical.

Editing



Sound

When I was working on the animatic, I wanted to make it really stand out with some killer Original EFX & BG MUSIC. I used scratch sound to give direction to the composers and initially planned for three layers of sound - background music, folly sound, and a voice over.

 

But then, you know, the whole Corona thing happened and I couldn't find a voice actor that fit the vibe and essence of my story. So, I ended up commissioning a remote sound studio for around 100 bucks and they gave me this sound that needed a few revisions, but I was in a time crunch so I just went with it. Overall, it turned out pretty cool.

Conclusion : 2D Animation Tips and Tricks

"Hey guys, so I'm here to talk about my latest project - a fantasy film that I've been working on for the past six months. Now, I'll be honest, it wasn't easy. I had to teach myself a lot of new skills, like how to use special effects and how to compose a killer soundtrack. But let me tell you, it was all worth it. Seeing my vision come to life on the screen was an absolutely incredible feeling. Plus, it's not every day you get to make your own fantasy film - I mean, come on, how cool is that?!"

 

First off, it's all about bringing static images to life by creating the illusion of movement. You do this by drawing a series of images that slightly differ from each other, and then playing them back in rapid succession. It's pretty cool, right?

 

But, of course, there's more to it than just drawing a bunch of pictures. You've got to have a good understanding of timing, as well as the principles of animation like anticipation and follow-through. And if you really want to take things to the next level, you can start experimenting with different techniques like overlaying or layering your drawings.

 

All in all, 2D animation is a really cool art form that allows you to create some really creative and interesting visuals. And while it might seem daunting at first, with a bit of practice and some dedication, you too can become an advanced animator!

 

it took me more than 6 months to complete this film..

                                         Get in Touch

Hey there, I've been getting into the world of animation lately, and that's why I wanted to share and explain some of the basics of 2D animation using my film breakdown.

 

My name is Indal and I'm the owner of kpzen.art, a studio based in Gujarat, IN. We're pretty new to the game, but we've already made a name for ourselves with our custom character designs. We've got a team of super talented designers who can create any character you can imagine. We've worked with businesses of all sizes and even individual clients to create unique and memorable characters. If you're in need of a character for your business or personal use, we're your go-to people. And if you want to learn more or request a quote, just hit us up. We can't wait to help you create the perfect character!

 

 

From the Beginning of Time" - Visual Novel



Hey guys, so have you ever thought about the beginning of time? I mean, like, how did it all start? Well, I've been thinking about it a lot lately and I've been working on this visual novel called "From the Beginning of Time" that explores that exact question.

 

It's a really cool concept, you know? Like, where did the universe come from? How did life on Earth come to be? And what was happening before our solar system even existed? I've been trying to answer all of those questions in my story, and it's been a wild ride.

 

I've been researching and writing for months now, and I can't wait to share it with everyone. I've got some amazing illustrations and character designs, and I'm really excited to see how people react to the story. I think it's going to be a hit.

 

So, if you're a fan of sci-fi or just love thinking about the mysteries of the universe, definitely check out "From the Beginning of Time" when it comes out. I promise you won't be disappointed.




Best for 2D Animation Software?

As a beginner in the world of 2D animation, I've found myself overwhelmed by the sheer number of software options out there. It seems like every day, there's a new program claiming to be the best one for beginners. But I've found that it really comes down to what you're comfortable with and what fits within your budget.

 

Personally, I love using clipstudio paint. It's not the most expensive option out there, but it has a really easy-to-use interface and a fantastic range of tools. Plus, it's great for painting, but with the addition of a timeline, it becomes a powerful 2D animation tool. So if you're looking for a good starter option, I highly recommend giving clipstudio paint a try. But ultimately, it's all about finding the software that works best for you.


How About showing a little Appreciation..... ✌

I've put a lot of time and effort into it, so I hope you appreciate it! It's been a labor of love, to say the least. But I think it's turned out pretty great. So, if you've got a few minutes, give it a read and let me know what you think. I'd really appreciate it!

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