Characters are one of the most important essence in an animation. Their purposes are not just to drive the story forward, but also to bring life into the world the animators have crafted. They are the avatars of the world the animators want the audiences to see. But they are not the world, they are living beings that should stand on their own.
The animators have to find a fine balance between visual designs and art style in designing a character. Too much details, and it'll overwhelm the audience. Too little, and a character will look bland. A good character is one that does not feels like a mere decoration, but a life that can stand one its own. When the audience look at it, they have to be captivated, they have to be intrigued. And when an audience is keen enough to want to know more about the character to care about it, you know that a new life is born.
Project Memorabilia Prologus chronicles the Courier's first encounter with Clover -- a girl who will play an important role in the main animation for our FYP project. Wihtout spoiling too much, I will give an abridged version of the roles of the characters in the Prologus.
Our protagonist, the Courier, is a nameless individual whose purpose in the animation is to resolve metaphysical anomalies he encounter in his travels.
His pet cat, Ringer, has the ability to transform into various object such as a clock or an umbrella. Besides serving as a utilitarian object, the cat serve other important purpose such as helping the Courier in solving the anomalies he encounters.
Clover is a girl who has been living alone in her home, waiting for her mother to return. It was not known how long her mother was gone. But until the Courier arrived, she has never speak to anyone. Still, she don't take to kindly to a stranger entering her home.
Courier & Cat
Clover, the Girl from the House
