Website handed in!

My site is now handed in.

Its available at: kentonsindependentproduction.com

Comic Structure

I've been thinking about my own comic in relation to McCloud's idea of the infinite canvas.
My comic treats the comic spaces as one that is split, each panel is treated as its own page. I think it would have been nice to have a continuous stream of content akin to the previous examples i have posted. But if I had done that it certainly would have made the sound elements more difficult, maybe even impossible to implement.

So, I've made this VERY simple mock up of a my comic in this style.

E-Merl and Pup 15

Two examples of web comics that use McCloud's 'infinite canvas' idea.

http://e-merl.com/pocom.htm

http://www.drewweing.com/pup/13pup.html

Scott McCloud on comics

http://www.ted.com/talks/scott_mccloud_on_comics.html

McCloud talks about the evolution of comics from print media to a digital media.

He mentions Marshall McLuhan, who states that the medium will influence the form, but McCloud argues that with comics this doesn't happen and instead you will often get a traditional print style comic that just so happens to be on the internet. these comics are not influenced by their medium and are instead rigidly bound by previous craft practices.

He also mentions the spacial connection between comic panels and the ways in which tradtion print comics will often break their connection to the previous panel. McCloud suggests that the solution lies in ancient forms of sequential art, namely tapestries, ancient hieroglyphics and so on. He claims that the reader should be following an imaginary line, one that is unbroken, through the comic. With print media with becomes difficult as their are limitations of size and shape due to the need to conform to spaces with books and newspapers.

He brings up the monitor too, as limited as a page in some ways. But McCloud rather than think of the monitor as a static page see's it more as a window. He says that the monitor could potentially be an infinite canvas.

Dead On Arrival

An interactive comic I found.

Seems pretty cool. I like its use of Noire Imagery and real 'actors'.

This comic also allows the user to influence the story rather than simple presenting an unchanging series of events. I want to do something similar in my project on that front.

Link: http://www.dead-on-arrival.co.uk/

Scott McCloud Web-comics

A Web comic by Scott McCloud about web comics

 http://scottmccloud.com/1-webcomics/icst/icst-1/icst-1.html

The ideas are quite dated. But I feel some of what he says is still relevant today.
He is basically emphasising the difference between traditional print media and digital practises. I find it interesting that so few comics hosted online take advantage of their medium, which is extremely versatile.

More Pixel Art

Here is two more examples of simple pixel art.
When your working with art work that is 25 pixel across you have to think carefully about each individual pixel as it can dramatically change the final product.

Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP

I've been looking at various games recently and this one caught my eye.

 What I found most striking about this game is its use of extremely simple pixel art for its character designs. It reminds me of the images I posted earlier in the first semester which used pixel art to recreate scenes or characters from films. I really like the simplicity of the art, most characters are probably less than 100 pixels each and yet they are full of personality.

The game also combines other forms of media into its design. the game encourages you to link your twitter account and tweet your achievements as you complete them in the game. also, character within the game will display their thoughts or disposition in a social network style interface.

Also, here's a dancing bear.

Story Diagram

Made a mock-up for my science fiction comic:

Loading screen

Maybe not the most welcome aspect of video gaming, here is the loading screen that I faked for my comic.

I feel that a loading screen gives the impression that their are systems at work behind what your viewing on your monitor. I thought a fake loading screen would help convey that the comic is inspired by video game forms.

Video game propaganda

Here's an image that remediates video game iconography into soviet style propaganda posters.

My Work

Just thought I should post some of my own stuff.

Again they are extremely simple, but I find even the simplest animation makes an images so much more interesting.

Weird Science

For my Final product, I'm creating a science fiction themed multimedia comic.
For inspiration I have been looking at some 'Weird Science' comic books. I really like the tone they produce and I'm keen to replicate it in my comic.

Here are some examples:

Video Game Iconography

In my comic it is my desire to blend into the framework video game iconography.
I've been thinking about the symbols and signs that are usually associated with gaming.
The most immediate obvious quality is their replication of spaces and figures. this can vary wildly from game to game, but the one I'm most interested in is gaming forms that rely on pixel graphics.
Pixel graphic are less common in gaming forms as they were in gamings early life cycle, and in contemporary gaming they are usually associated with smaller budget or deliberately nostalgic games.

it is this form visual style of gaming that I'm most keen on reproducing in my comic. As I've stated before I want my comic to be an interactive experience so its seems natural, to me at least, that I would use video gaming forms as the basis for my visual style. Pixel art also has certain practical advantages too. generally I find it much easier to animate and with my particularly low frame style of animation it looks aesthetically appropriate.

Animated Art

I'm particularly interested in animated art work
here's an example of an image that I feel benefits from animation.

 

Mock-Up of Comic Panel

decided to do a mock-up of my a typical panel in my comic.

Music Choices and Star Control 2

For my comic I've opted to use video game sound tracks and music where possible.
I think this will give the project a transmedia quality.

For my tracks I'm using tracks from Star Control 2, Pokemon and the Legend of Zelda.
Star Control 2 has been a big influence in my project. I particularly like the conversations windows that the player uses to interact with the game's various alien creatures.

Here are two examples. Similar to my project this element of the game utilises looping animations.

Music link: http://downloads.khinsider.com/game-soundtracks/album/star-control-2-3do-

David Carrier

I've been reading some writing by David Carrier. In his book on "the aesthetic of comics" he highlights the ways in which comics differ from other media. Similar to Mccould's approach Carrier defines the medium in terms of causal connection. He uses this quote in his opening chapter

'Tis only Causation, which produces such a connection a connexion as to give us assurance from the existence or action of one object, that 'twas follow'd or preceded by any other existence or action"

He brings up photography in relation to painting stating that a photograph is just one moment, one point in a sequence. but a painting does not need to necessarily need to depict just one moment in time.

Website now live

you can find me website at:

kentonsindependentproduction.com

Hosting For Website

Found a suitable host for my website. should be able to make the website live soon.

http://www.godaddy.com/

Hobolobo

Here is another webcomic that takes full advantage of its medium:
http://hobolobo.net/
I particualrly like the way the layers of depth shift when you view a new page.

Here's a work in progress of the science fiction title page.