Going Digital: Story Sketches (HTTYD) 2006

It was during my stint on HTTYD that the DreamWorks story department began it's transition from traditional boarding with pen and paper, to digital boarding on Wacom Cintiqs loaded with Photoshop. Like most of my colleagues, I was eager to try out this new technology, so I jumped in with both feet.

These panels are taken from one of my first digitally drawn sequences. Alas, the sequence ended up in the recycle-bin, but the die was cast -- I had traded my Sharpie for a stylus and there was no turning back!

Some Early Character Sketches (HTTYD) 2006

Far from the sleek, black Night Fury that appeared in the movie, these early sketches of Toothless depict a common, garden variety dragon of little consequence. Consequently, he was tossed from the picture.

This one feels a little chihuahua-like.

For a time we explored the idea of Hiccup's rival (Snotlout) being a girl viking.

I was thinking of Rosie O'Donnell while drawing this one.

Just a random dragon idea here.

Random Story Sketches (How To Train Your Dragon) 2006

These panels are taken from a an early first-pass in which Hiccup tries to get his stubborn, disinterested little dragon to catch fish for him. Note: Staying true to the book at the time, Toothless was portrayed as a smaller type of dragon that spoke in the third person and had a penchant for corny jokes and riddles. While pitching the sequence I had to say things like, "Toothless no want to catch fish! Toothless want more jokes!" (Ugh!) It soon became evident that the tone of the movie was sounding a bit too juvenile, and so the dragon was rendered mute. It wasn't until much later, however, that Toothless was changed to the larger Night Fury dragon that was in the movie.

Idea Sketch (How To Train Your Dragon) 2006

In the early days of story on HTTYD, Toothless was depicted as a scrawny runt of a dragon who was hardly a match for a flock of seagulls let alone other dragons. (digital drawing)

Chip N' Dale: Rescue Rangers Model Sheets (1988)

Here's a blast from the past for all you Disney Afternoon fans. This was the first show for which we created these one-sheets for the animators. The idea was to give them an easy to pin-up quick-reference sheet that featured construction info as well as a variety of poses and expressions. Note the shows creators, Tad Stones and Alan Zaslove, signed-off on the sheets. Alan got his start in the business as a young buck in the WB shorts department back in "the day" and later at UPA in the early 50's. He would eventually become my mentor as I began to take on some directing duties for the Darkwing Duck series.

Digital Panda Sketches (KFP) 2004

These sketches were drawn digitally as I was transitioning to the Wacom Cintique for production work. Thought you might like to compare them to my previous posts. Working digitally introduces a variety of tools and techniques to storyboard artists, but sketching and drawing fundamentals remain the same.

More Random Story Sketches (KFP) 2003

More of the same here. 1/4 size panels, medium Sharpie and Prismacolor for tone.