In this short post I have decided to show some visual research from a Batman commic titled black and white. It is right up my alley (pardon the pun)

here is the front and back cover of issue 4. I really enjoyed the black and white stark contrasts with the gray mid tone... it got me thinking deeper about how the animation was going to be lit and how the shaddows would be convayed.

this second image of Batman and Catwoman stood out to me as a good direction to go in tone and look. Im definately soaking up those creative vibes and the feeling seeps into the cracks of the animation history and back ground as it develops.

This Angelica animation takes place in an alley way and this image is yery similar to what I had in my head. the stark whites work great against those intence shadows.

part of my thought process has led me to thinking that parts of the animation will be about simplicity of line as well as complex poses. this fourth piece illustrates simplicity... another thought was that in part of the animation I could show the characters in complete sillouette too.

Here is the second Blog segment leading up to the actual animation... however long or short it may be...

Above is an outline of the basic fight... A story board within the story board. It makes sense to me and will help when I come to animate the scene...

A sketch of the alleyway the main animation takes place... There needed to be a 3 dimensional space that I could visualise the characters interacting rather than just moving around in a void. Its close, confined and dingy...

A quick sketch of the murderer slashing at Angelica with his exagerated knife... it is important to show the interaction of character on character before one makes it move. here there was the chance to show her in a dodge as she skips out the way from harm.

I toyed with the idea that the murderer would have a piece of rusted metal pipe... here is a sketch that made it.

angry knife thrust sketch... playing with movement.

these images are gesture drawings from friends posing as the murderer and the hero... one had a kitchen knife and the other had my samurai sword... a good time was had as we tried to capture the essence of interaction and character from the two enemies.

forced perspective study gesture drawing... all realism study.

The moment the sword makes contact with the foe

The sword passes through the back of the neck of the adversary just before the head goes plop!

more knife and sword interaction

Although these gesture sketches are loose they are completely invaluable in thier aid or realism...

here it shows the swinging of the sword back as the knife comes forward...

sword being drawn in ready stance.

lunge and dodge...

and again... the thrust forwards and the martial art way of the block.

3 smaller gesture drawings of interaction

loose dodge from the knife.

loose sketch of baletesque pose as the angel character launches into the air... this one was totally generated from a feeling.

here is a train sketch of an idea of the story being expanded at another time... I seriously considered having this sketch image of the two figures fighting as they fall through the clouds mid- air towards the earth below. It makes sense to me... remember the wrath demon manipulates the murderer...

Balcony set sketch for the test animation idea.

A basic walk though of Angelica coming into land on the balcony railing step by step so I could see the progression all on one page of whare she might move.

An idea that I dont have time for... to bring other characters into the story.

Quick sketches and forced perspective of flight... I only like the figure shown on the right.

Another train drawing, of the Angel swooping in to land in front of the murderer before the fight takes place... perhaps he will get blasted back by the force of her wings...

Time off from demon slaying... sat alone in her empty mansion drinking her soup between nightly escapades...

A couple of facial studies... like the one on the right but its not quite right...

a quick sketch of a dodge... her hand is showing forced perspective(not a fat hand)

My work desk with incomplete marquettes of Demons I didnt have hime to sculpt.... at least the ideas are there in other works and will be expanded upon in other works...