Welcome New Team Members!

Over the last couple of months the BB Project has taken on 4 lovely new animators! :) 

So I want to say welcome and introduce you to Nicole, Terri and Mui.  

See the screenshots below to see a couple of shots that are currently are work in progress. 

Butterfly Motion Test

testing the restrictions of random motion

First Purple Emperor Test

The first animation test of our butterfly

Storyboard Wall

The storyboards are up and ready to go! :) 

Numbers!

To Do 

40 animated backgrounds 

66 shots of character animation 

24 shots of animated butterflies 

6 months to go...

Character design

Hello! It's been a while since we've updated anything. Here is a character line-up of what BB look like throughout his life if he were a cartoon character. I based the adult BBs on B&W photos that were available. I still have no idea if he had blue eyes or brown hair....but we'll just leave it at that...

Sky Tests

Ghibli - Arrietty

The latest Ghibli release seems to have a lot in common with the stuff we've been working on for BB. Perhaps 'little people' are in this season!  Some of the team are off to the cinema this weekend to check it out. :) I can't wait!

BB Style Concept

Again using Rachinta's character design! There are a couple areas that i need to work on... though the style is starting to take shape!

Another BB test (Rough)

This time using a character that Rachinta Platts designed

Lake Test Animation

Another water test... This time with fishes!

More images and maybe another test to come in the next couple of days!

BB Weekend - 2nd & 3rd July

 Saturday: Storytelling and music around the campfire at Lyveden New Bield.

Campfire event at Lyveden New Bield with Storyteller
Jo Blake and musicians Greg Cave and Nick Ellison.

Sunday: Butterfly Hunt with Matthew Oates

 

Purple Emperor egg

The famous Purple Emperor butterfly.
We had to wait for it to land on a poop so we could take pictures. :)

Roundhouse Concept

Still work in progress...

Water Texture Tests

Animation Test

The Story wall has started!

Been keeping busy. :)

Sketchbook scans

Artists Meeting

A photo from the first official BB production team meeting.

Hello everyone! :)

Ink Concept Drawing

Concept/Style Design Ideas

Hi! Simon here! This is my first post for this blog I thought it would be nice to update you with some of my recent concept design/ideas.

Random Animation Test

Updates

It's been quite a while since my last post. The BB film production has been going through lots of new and exciting changes.

The first thing I would like to announce is that this website will now serve primarily as a production blog for our short film.  The film will be produced over the next year and this blog will be a place for readers to follow our progress.  We will feature posts from artists involved on the project as well as providing updates on the other events in the BB and His World project.

Secondly I would like to welcome the new members to the production team.  These are Ryan Kyle, Simon Hill, Andy Ralston, Rachinta Platts and Martin Falconer.  Several of the artists have already been very busy reading and scribbling away so look out for posts from them soon.

With the research period coming to an end and new hands helping out with producing we are now fully immersed in the pre-production stages of the film.  Scripting and storyboarding here we come! :)

Three Jos in a Boat

As part of the BB and his World project Bright Stream Arts have commissioned several other artists to produce work for events being held in October.  These artists are Contemporary Storyteller Jo Blake, Poet Jo Bell and Visual Artist Jo Dacombe.  A couple of weeks ago they spent a week on a narrow boat travelling down the River Nene.  

Visit the blog to find out more: Three Jos in a Boat Blog .

Introductory Event

This event presented by Rosalind Stoddart and Ros Patching is part of The National Society of Storytelling annual gathering on the 8th of April.  It will be held from 12-2pm at The Great Hall, Oundle School and will feature storytellers Jo Blake, Taffy Thomas and Adrian Johnson.

Click here for directions to the event

A photograph from my recent trip to the Lake District.  

I felt like it would have been a nice place for gnomes to live. :)

The Annual BB Society Meeting

Last weekend Ros, Andy and myself travelled over to Rugby for the 11th Annual General Meeting of The BB Society.  The meeting was held at the Temple Reading Room where BB once taught as art master.  

The Temple Reading Room at Rugby School

All the biggest BB fans were there and there were a couple of little stands selling early editions of BB's books and his artwork printed onto note cards.  I was also able to get a look at a collection of prints of illustrations by John Worsley.  These were created for Anglia TV's adaptation of 'The Little Grey Men'.  Something we have been desperate to have a look at.  I bought myself a couple of note cards with BB's distinctive scraper board illustrations on the front and Ros picked up an early edition of one of her favourite BB books.

Illustration by John Worsley for Anglia TV's
1975 adaptation of 'The Little Grey Men'

The first part of the meeting gave us an insight into the work the society has been doing for the last year and what they are planning next.  The society is currently putting together an archive of BB's work including his books, artwork and articles from the 'Shooting Times'.  A collection of this archive was on display for members to look at.  We had a hot lunch provided by Rugby school, about half way through the meeting, and it was nice to sit down and chat with some members of the society.  Lunch was followed by two presentations and some time to look around at the BB merchandise on offer. There was an auction for a specially commissioned piece donated to the society by Julian Driver.  The plaque of the famous quote at the start of all of BB's books was hand carved by Stone Mason, Alf Herbert who gave a short talk on how it was made.

A specially commissioned piece by Alf Herbet which was up for auction. 

Overall we had a nice afternoon and were able to fully immerse ourselves in the culture of BB.  It was great to meet people who are truly passionate about BB and who are working hard to preserve his legacy for future generations.

You can visit The BB Society's website here.