Second Armature

The revised armature is much more delicate and the hands arms and feet are all detachable due to the complications of the limbs snapping after prolonged usage.

Clay Sculpt of Puppet

Armature 1

My first armature based on design 1.

Studio set up

My home set up for creating the first armature.

Body and Facial Expression

A movement shown in terms of body language and facial movement/expression.

Second Armature Design

I have revised my armature design. The filled out areas of thighs and arms are epoxy putty and give the puppet some rigidity, this way it's movements aren't as bendy and it looks like it has bones.

There are magnets installed in the feet because my set will include a hidden steel sheet for the puppet to magnetise to.

I have also decided on a very light skin tone, fitting to my complexion.

Storyboard example

Storyboarding the beginning of the film.

Drawn Model

This is the model on the wall that the creator is meant to be working from, but as the creation progresses the model is changed. This drawing of the model comes to life at the end of the film. She is upset because she isn't happy with how she looks so the puppet draws a loud outfit on her and makes her feel individual and happy.

Character on Set

Putting my character in context of the set it is easier to see the scale.

First set design

This is my set design, but there's room for change. It is a simple studio space with a cutting mat and 'helping hands' mechanism.

Body Language

Here I am just exploring some movements and body language. Because the puppets' mouth doesn't move and it can't speak her expressions rely a lot on her body language. These show how curious and timid she is to begin with.

Facial Design

The first facial design for the puppet. Large eyes are very expressive and the pupils and eyebrows will be adjustable. She has a round face to correspond with mine.

First model design

This is the first design for the puppet and armature. Using aluminium wire and floral wire for limbs and blocks or epoxy putty to fill out the feet and connecting sections. It will be a plain plastic head.

As you can see the model is quite curvy and the proportions are slightly cartoonised.

Researching Creations

 

My love of stop motion led me to go down the path of creating a puppet 'me', but i have been struggling with what should be in the film. So I've been exploring the idea of creationism in it's generic form. Frankenstein, marionettes and puppets, robots and maleable monsters. What settings best fit the characters and which character do i want to base my ideas on?

Monsters and robots are best suited to sci-fi and horror, dolls and kids puppets belong in a playroom as part of a life sized set and an armature should be in a studio waiting to be finished off or cast.

I like the last idea the most, the idea of physically making a puppet version of me in front of a camera, then having it come to life, display it's personality and grow. The whole film would be a metaphor for personal physical and emotional development, the journey to becoming the adult i am today.