Penguin Comic Animation

This is an animation in the style of a comic - I have designed this to be aimed at children between ages of 5 - 10. It is a simple idea of creating a comic book layout with each picture being a small animation so when you click on the picture it will come to life and show a small part of the story before you go onto the next picture.
I have decided to use 3 characters a mother penguin and two small boys.

One of the boys is very curious and a bit naughty, the other boy is a bit older and a little more cautious. The story is about the little naughty penguin wanting to venture further from his mother and the area she has told him to play in. He is followed cautiously by his friend. They get to a place that neither has been before and are excited playing when the older one gets nervous and thinks they should return - the naughty penguin starts to skate on a small area of ice that starts to crack and falls through the ice. The older boy tries to pull him out but he isn't strong enough so he tell the smaller penguin that he will have to go and find help! so he later returns with the boys mother - she is very worried and rushes to him and pulls him out. The little penguin is very sorry for not listening to his mother and promises that in future he will not go anywhere where she tells him not too. To be on the safe side his mother builds a small fence around a safe area where they have to play in future.

This is a simple story that I will animate into 4-6 small animations.

Development of Penguin comic

after preparing the story board for the comic I worked out I would need 8 different sections of small movie clips to tell the story so I set out to produce the 8 animated clips in flash. Using my story board for guidance the story came to life and I feel the penguins personalities gradually revealed themselves as you progress through the 'comic'.

I found animating the characters took alot of time and the preparation of the artwork was very time consuming, after I had the main artwork done I focused on trying to create a believable narrative.

After completing the 'comic' I exhibited it and I was really pleased with the response, not only the children enjoyed it but also alot of adults made comments about their enjoyment of the story and everyone who tested it didn't show any problems with the navigation of the site. I feel that there is a commercial opportunity with interactive comics. I would like to take it further and explore other story lines and it could be a viable business in the future.

Coloured up Characters

Sketches of Characters