Illustration & Visual Narrative -Webcomic

December 23, 2024

Illustration & Visual Narrative -Webcomic

Illustration & Visual Narrative - Webcomic

02/12/2024 - 05/01/2025 / Week 10 - Week 15

Begimbaeva Aidina / 0380489

Illustration & Visual Narrative / Bachelor of Design (Honors) in Creative Media

Final Assignment: Webcomic

TABLE OF CONTENT

1. LECTURES

2. INSTRUCTION

3. WEBCOMIC

3.1 REFERENCE BOARD

3.2 COVER PAGE PROGRESS WORK

3.3 ONE-PAGED COMIC PROGRESS WORK

3.4 ANIMATION

3.5 FINAL OUTCOME

4. REFLECTIONS

LECTURES

Week 11

In Week 11, Mr. Hafiz introduced our new assignment, which is focused on creating Webcomic. The task is to adapt the short story "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs into a webcomic format. Mr. Hafiz clearly outlined the assessment criteria and provided detailed instructions for the assignment. We are required to add animations to the cover page or design a one-page comic. The style for this project will be Surrealism. At the end, the final webcomic should be attached to a Google Slides presentation.

Week 12

In Week 12, Mr. Hafiz demonstrated various transitions used in comic design. He showed us six different types of transitions and provided several examples through the Google Slides presentation he prepared.

Week 13

In Week 13, Mr. Hafiz gave feedback on our initial sketches. He also shared a reference board with framed ink samples and a color palette for inspiration. We were encouraged to keep in contact through WhatsApp for easier communication and feedback throughout the process.

Week 14
There were no lectures this week as it was a holiday.

Week 15
Although there were no formal classes, Mr. Hafiz guided us on how to approach animation and instructed us to create the animation in separate panels.

INSTRUCTION

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WEBCOMIC

I read the novel and summarized its contents: it is the story of a family who got a monkey's paw and their three wishes became a reality. One of the wishes was two hundred pounds, and unfortunately, the family's son, Herbert, died in an accident. In the end, the parents got the money, but the price was too high.

I chose the moment when there was a knock on the door after the family had made their wishes. This is a scene from the third part of the novel. I chose this particular moment because it evokes strong emotional reactions and images for me. The pounding sound and the tension in the air reflect a growing sense of fear and unknowable threat, making it a pivotal moment in the story. This event begins the culmination of the family's tragedy, and I believe this scene will be a powerful emphasis in my project.

Figure 3.1.1 Novel Part Screenshot

Scene Breakdown

Panel 1: Inside the house, in a dark room. Mr. and Mrs. White sit waiting. There is anxiety and fear in their faces. In the background is the dark night outside the window, and the old, dim candles that flicker in the corner. The time is ominous, full of silence.

Mr. White (whispering, fearfully):

“Don't open the door... It's not him... It can't be him!”

Panel 2:

Mrs. White stands at the door, her face expressing an incredible mixture of excitement, hope, and fear. She clutches the doorknob, her fingers white with tension. There is absolute silence outside the door, but the tension in the air can be felt as before a storm.

Mrs. White (in tears, impatiently):

“It's him! It's Herbert, he's back!”

Panel 3:

Close-up of Mr. White's face, whose expression is contorted with horror. He grabs her arm, trying to stop her.

Mr. White (screaming, horrified):

“No, don't open it! Don't open it, it can't be him!”

Panel 4:

A sudden, eerie knock on the door - loud and insistent. The sounds seem to echo in the room. The entire frame vibrates with tension.

Sound (in passing):

Knock , Knock , Knock !

Panel 5:

Mrs. White stands on the threshold, her face contorted with despair and joy. She starts to open the door. She can't hear what her husband is saying, she just wants to see her son.

Mrs. White (in despair):

“I'll get it! It's my son! He's back, I know it!”

Panel 6:

Mr. White, in a complete panic state, rushes to the door, his face contorted with fear. He tries to grab it and stop her.

Mr. White (terrified, screams):

“Don't do it! You don't understand!”

Frame 7:

In the background - dark night, wind noise. A squeezed squeak is heard from the door as it is opened. Only semi-darkness and cold wind. Not a soul in sight.

Frame 8:

Mrs. White, who finally opens the door, stands bewildered and confused. There is no one on the threshold. The wind is howling. There is complete silence in this shot, just an empty space outside the door.

REFERENCE COMIC

Rationale for the comic

I chose to illustrate a scene from the moment when someone knocks on the door, as it marks the turning point in the story of The Monkey’s Paw where the consequences of the family's wishes begin to unfold. This is a critical moment that encapsulates the eerie tension and foreshadows the horror that is to come.

The reason I selected this specific scene is because it is charged with suspense and dread, as the knock on the door represents the culmination of the family's tragic choices. The moment is both surreal and chilling, fitting the theme of fate and unintended consequences that runs throughout the story. The knocking serves as a catalyst for the final, horrifying revelation and carries deep symbolic weight.

Additionally, I wanted to incorporate surrealism into the piece, as required by the assignment. The surreal elements in my composition, such as distorted proportions or exaggerated expressions, emphasize the strange, otherworldly nature of the situation. The moment of the knock is not just a literal action but a manifestation of the family’s guilt, grief, and the unnatural forces they’ve invoked. Through this scene, I aim to convey the sense that the world around them has warped into something unsettling and beyond their control.

By choosing this moment, I also sought to evoke a sense of anticipation and mystery, drawing the viewer into the tragic events that unfold from this point onward. It’s a visual representation of how a single, simple event — a knock at the door — can change everything, setting the stage for the tragic climax.

Concept: The concept behind the piece is to highlight the eerie, foreboding atmosphere of the scene. The knock on the door is symbolic of fate coming to claim its toll. I wanted to capture the tension, the confusion, and the chilling realization that something unnatural is about to unfold. The scene will be framed around the door, with the focus on the moment just before it opens. The characters’ expressions will be frozen in a moment of fear and hesitation, with a surreal, almost dreamlike distortion to emphasize the strangeness of the situation.

Animation: The animation will consist of multiple panels to create a sense of tension building towards the reveal. In the first panel, the characters will be shown sitting in the dimly lit room, unaware of the impending knock. The following panels will gradually zoom in on the door, allowing the viewer to feel the suspense increase. The animation will play with the timing, making the knock feel like it’s taking too long, heightening the unease.

Figure 3.1.2 Sketch for comic

REFERENCE POSTER

Rationale for the comic

Concept :The Monkey’s Paw: The central image will be the monkey’s paw, exaggerated in size, gripping a chess piece in the form of a skull. This symbolizes the dangerous game the family is playing — life and death — with their wish. The paw will have a dark, eerie texture, highlighting its cursed nature.

Color and Lighting: The color palette will be dark, with blacks, grays, and deep reds to create a foreboding atmosphere. The paw and chess piece will be subtly illuminated, drawing attention, while shadows add to the eerie tone.

Surrealism: The paw will appear unnaturally large, and the door will be warped, enhancing the dreamlike, unsettling quality of the scene. This adds to the supernatural tension of the moment.

Typography: The title will be in bold, jagged font at the top or bottom of the poster.

Overall Effect: The poster will convey tension and mystery, capturing the moment before the tragic consequences of the family’s wish are revealed. The surreal elements enhance the unsettling feeling that fate is about to take a dark turn.

Figure 3.1.3 Sketch for Poster

Figure 3.1.4 Moodboard

Figure 3.1.5 Final Reference Board, Week 15

Figure 3.1.6 Final Reference Board, Week 15

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3.2 Cover Page Process Work

I initially decided to create a poster based on The Monkey's Paw. I chose to focus on the moment where the paw, symbolizing fate, is central to the family’s tragedy. The idea of the paw playing chess with a skull-shaped piece seemed to perfectly represent the deadly consequences of their wishes.

First I decided to create an image of the monkey's paw, as it is an important element in the story. I focused on depicting the paw as the central object on the poster, because it is the paw that symbolizes the power and consequences of desires.

Figure 3.2.1 Monkey's Paw Illustrate Process

I started illustrating the monkey's paw in Adobe Illustrator, creating basic shapes and contours. I then transferred the work to the iPad, where I added shadows and fine details in the Procreate app to enhance volume and texture. This made the image more expressive and dynamic.

Figure 3.2.2 Monkey's Paw Illustrate Process

After I finished the paw, I moved on to creating the chess table and pieces in Adobe Illustrator. I carefully worked out their details to keep the lines crisp and add the right effect. The chess pieces were done in a minimalistic style, but with a strong symbolism.

Then, in Photoshop, I added lighting and shadows to enhance the atmosphere of the poster. I used dark shades of red, black and gray to create a dark, slightly eerie atmosphere. This made the poster more suspenseful and mysterious, emphasizing the tragic and mystical nature of the story.

In the process, I encountered some difficulties - for example, with how to arrange the light and shadows correctly to create the right atmosphere. At first, the poster looked too bright or, on the contrary, too flat. But after several attempts and adjustments, I was able to adjust the lighting, adding dark shades and bright accents, which eventually emphasized the intimidating and mysterious atmosphere. This allowed me to achieve the desired effect and finalize the poster.

Figure 3.2.3 Monkey's Paw Illustrate Process

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3.3 One-Paged Comic Process Work

I started with my comic and this picture shows my steps.I started by choosing the key moment in the story when the knock on the door is heard, as this moment creates tension and marks a turning point in the narrative. To set the tone, I focused on the atmosphere of the scene and the facial expressions of the characters.

I first sketched the basic outline and composition in rough draft, choosing a frame-by-frame approach to convey the unfolding action. I focused on the tension building as the characters approached the door, giving the characters' facial expressions a sense of terror and anticipation.

Figure 3.3.1 Monkey's Paw Illustrate Process

After I completed the first panel, I continued working on the rest of the panels using the same approach. I used the Pen Tool in Adobe Illustrator to achieve sharper, more precise lines. This allowed me to accurately work out the contours of the characters and objects, and to make the lines smooth and crisp, which is important for comics.

Figure 3.3.2 Monkey's Paw Illustrate Process

The final panels are now complete, though the background still requires some additional detailing. To achieve this, I focused on using the Pen Tool for precise line work and the Gradient Tool to add depth and texture to the scene. This allowed me to create smoother transitions and more dynamic lighting, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the comic.

Figure 3.3.3 Monkey's Paw Illustrate Process

After completing the main artwork, I proceeded to add the dialogue and sound effects to each panel, making sure they matched the tone and flow of the scenes. While doing this, I started to consider whether a black or white background would be more fitting to intensify the overall mood.

Figure 3.3.4 Dialogue added for the comic

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3.4 Animation

At first, I thought about where I could make gif animations and searched for the right tools. Then I remembered that in typography lessons with Mr. Vinod we learned how to make animations, and I decided to apply this knowledge.

Here are the scenes I made. Above are the artboards I made in Adobe Illustrator, and below are the timelapses in Adobe Photoshop.

Figure 3.4.1 Animation

In the beginning, I decided to create an animation for the scene where there is a knock on the door. This was inspired by the way comic books show such moments where the word “knock” or “stomp” moves to create a sense of sound. I wanted the animation to convey the knocking effect like in the comic, so that it would add dynamics and enhance the atmosphere.

Figure 3.4.2 Animation

In the third panel, I decided to do an eye animation to convey the nervousness of the character to emphasize the anxiety. I also added a background animation to enhance the stressful atmosphere. The background will twitch and distort slightly, creating a sense that the character is going through stressful moments, and emphasizing his inner anxiety.

Figure 3.4.3 Animation

Figure 3.4.4 Animation

After that, I also added animation to the other panels. Each scene was given its own dynamic movement to convey the atmosphere of tension. I used various elements such as background fluctuations, changes in characters' facial expressions and movement of small objects to enhance the visual effect and emphasize the emotional tension.

3.5 Final Outcome

Figure 3.5.1 Final Outcome of Cover Page

Figure 3.5.2 Final Outcome of Comic

Fig.5.2.3 Final Outcome - Cover - GIF

Fig.5.2.4 Final Outcome - One-Paged Comic - GIF

Google Slides Link

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FEEDBACK

Specific feedback - Overall the work looks good! However, there are some areas where improvements can be made. Some parts need to be refined, especially in terms of composition and transitions. I didn't realize I needed to write every week to get feedback .In the future, I will make sure to clarify these details before moving on to the next steps. Also, I noticed that some places could be tightened up and tweaked for more consistency. But overall, you're on the right track! Keep up the good work.

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REFLECTIONS

Experience: Working on this project was an enriching experience where I learned different artistic techniques and applied them to create a poster and comic book and then animation. The process began with ideation, where I decided on the concept of the poster and comic book. I experimented with various software tools including Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to bring my vision to life. I also learned how to use animation techniques, something I hadn't fully explored before. The entire project required a lot of trial and error, especially when creating animations and working out details. It was a fun and rewarding challenge that pushed me to improve both my technical and creative skills.

Observations: Throughout the project, I observed how important it is to focus on the details and composition. In the poster design, especially with the monkey's paw, I realized that the combination of subtle details, like textures and shadows, played a crucial role in creating the right atmosphere. In the comic, I noticed how transitions and timing can either enhance or disrupt the narrative flow. The feedback I received highlighted how small adjustments in composition and transitions could make a big difference in the overall presentation.

Findings: I found that using a combination of digital tools allowed me to experiment with different styles and refine my artwork. For the poster, I was able to create a striking design using Illustrator for the vector elements, then refine it in Procreate for the details and shading. For the comic, using the Pen tool helped me create clean, crisp lines, and using the gradient tool added depth to the scenes.

One key finding was the importance of planning ahead and being organized. In the animation process, understanding the basic steps—such as how to import files, work with frames, and adjust timing—was essential for smooth execution. I also learned that refining my work after receiving feedback is crucial. While I was initially uncertain about some of the transitions and effects, the feedback gave me clear direction to improve my work.

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Aidina Begimbaeva (0380489)