December 22nd, 2010
Facial expressions for the Gruffalo, dgtl. paint over by Max Lang. Watch the film on ZDF, Dec 24th 10.40 am.
Der Grüffeloadventskalendercountdown #21
December 21st, 2010
Throughout the production of “The Gruffalo” we felt very lucky to be able to approach both Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, the book’s author and its illustrator, for their advice. Early on, Axel graciously supplied us with a series of beautiful drawings of the film’s then potential sidecharacters, many of which -to our fault- didn’t make it into the film. One though, the toad, became a much beloved cast member to us (see him in action here). Top: Initial design for the toad by Axel Scheffler. Below: Modelsheet by Max Lang. Bottom: Final model by Wolfram Kampffmeyer and Felix Schaller.
Watch “The Gruffalo” on Dec. 24th, 10.40 am on ZDF and on Dec 25th, 04.30 pm on the BBC.
Der Grüffeloadventskalendercountdown #20
December 20th, 2010
Top: Owl’s windbeaten “treetop house”, in a colourkey by Neil Ross. Below: An earlier layout for that same shot, with Owl’s house still seated in a conifer and some later designs for the tree as a broadleaf, both by Manu Arenas. Bottom: Manu’s eerie designs for the spiral staircase Mouse escapes on in that sequence.
See “The Gruffalo” this friday, Dec. 24th, 10.40 am on ZDF,
Der Grüffeloadventskalendercountdown #18
December 18th, 2010
Many christmas countdowns could be done with the beautiful drawings Manu Arenas has blessed this project with. Here are three of Jakob Schuh’s personal favourites.
Der Grüffeloadventskalendercountdown #17
December 17th, 2010
Above: Colourconcept for the lake by Neil Ross.
Below: An early sketch Manu Arenas had originally done for the film’s framestory (see Mother Squirrel in the background) ended up serving as the layout for Mouse’s lilypad-passage over the lake. See the German version of “The Gruffalo” premiere on Dec 24th 10.40 am on ZDF.