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Teo Kryštůfková
Concept Designer & Storyboard Artist
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The Nifty Project

The Nifty Project is an animated short currently in pre-production, to which we contributed during a short intensive team workshop at the Anomalia incubator—under the daily mentorship from the Emmy® Award winning artist Rustam Hasanov. Here I share the process of my contribution to the project.

THE CHALLENGE
The translation of loose scene ideas into concrete moods and environments that work together as a whole, as a part of a sequence of shots—so they convey the story well.

OUTCOME
A complete successuful visualisation of the short film.

Long story short—small, cute creatures called Nifties invade a society of grumpy, corrupted people in order to spread and teach kindness to them, which they have never experienced before.

Long story short—small, cute creatures called Nifties invade a society of grumpy, corrupted people in order to spread and teach kindness to them, which they have never experienced before.

Each of the team members chose a couple of scene ideas provided by the storyboard team to visualise in the form of a colorscript. After that, we took one of the rough color keys and developed it into a fully designed concept.

Each of the team members chose a couple of scene ideas provided by the storyboard team to visualise in the form of a colorscript. After that, we took one of the rough color keys and developed it into a fully designed concept.

This time, we have left reference searching for later so that it wont restrict the ideation process.

This time, we have left reference searching for later so that it wont restrict the ideation process.

I started by coming up with loose composition ideas in the form of thumbnail sketches—more focused on the relationship of geometric shapes rather than on specific designs.

I started by coming up with loose composition ideas in the form of thumbnail sketches—more focused on the relationship of geometric shapes rather than on specific designs.

After choosing the one best sketch for each shot, the next step was to choose the right colors for the overall sequence of shots in a way that would be meaningful, contrasting, and that made sense for what is going on in the narrative at that moment.

After choosing the one best sketch for each shot, the next step was to choose the right colors for the overall sequence of shots in a way that would be meaningful, contrasting, and that made sense for what is going on in the narrative at that moment.

The image I’ve chosen for further completion is the shot that pictures the Nifties “taking over” the city while the people cheer and embrace them. As a result the city is being overgrown by giant flowers, in contrast with the harsh angular architecture.

The image I’ve chosen for further completion is the shot that pictures the Nifties “taking over” the city while the people cheer and embrace them. As a result the city is being overgrown by giant flowers, in contrast with the harsh angular architecture.

I like to do numerous studies beforehand in order to connect these ideas in my head while I’m designing—that way I don’t have to worry about the lack of visual information to draw from.

I like to do numerous studies beforehand in order to connect these ideas in my head while I’m designing—that way I don’t have to worry about the lack of visual information to draw from.

I won’t have to rely on reference so much during the process—that would restrict me too much.

I won’t have to rely on reference so much during the process—that would restrict me too much.

Thanks to all of the initial thumbnail composition sketches and studies, I was able to quickly come up with concrete designs and didn’t have to worry so much about where to actually place things.

Thanks to all of the initial thumbnail composition sketches and studies, I was able to quickly come up with concrete designs and didn’t have to worry so much about where to actually place things.

Most of the lighting and color choices were already figured out beforehand and, in general, if it works as a small color key or thumbnail sketch, it will work as a bigger image as well.

Most of the lighting and color choices were already figured out beforehand and, in general, if it works as a small color key or thumbnail sketch, it will work as a bigger image as well.

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