Unsure of where to go in life, Zale encounters an old bison waiting for a broken light signal to turn green and let him pass. Before he knows it, Zale too is pulled into the hopeless waiting game which threatens to unravel him.
"Tales of Zale - Flickering Lights" is an indie production facilitated by the Open Workshop Artist Residency. As the third and final installment of the original web series, this 11-minute episode is a contemplative passion project that has been years in the making.
COMPOSITED STILLS
Over the course of the short, different colors play a role to convey the characters' mood and the story's progression. These are pushed greatly during the compositing stage.
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
Art & compositing by Sif Savery
CHARACTER DESIGN
Consistent shape language is applied to the character designs. Model posing is based directly off the storyboard poses so that they can be used directly in the animation afterwards.
Art by Sif Savery
Art by Sif Savery
Art by Sif Savery
Art by Sif Savery
Art by Sif Savery
LOOSE EXPLORATIONS
Art by Sif Savery
Art by Sif Savery
Art by Sif Savery
Art by Sif Savery
BACKGROUNDS
Backgrounds are drawn in TVPaint based off the storyboard layout. Drawing them in the same software that is used for animation, allows for the environment to easily be animated along with the character.
Art by Sif Savery
Art by Sif Savery
Art by Sif Savery
Art by Sif Savery
Art by Sif Savery
STORYBOARD
The storyboard and animatic goes through many iterations to figure out how to most effectively convey the idea of the scene and create a flow in the storytelling. Below is a small example:
MERCHANDISE
For the release of 'Tales of Zale - Flickering Lights', merchandise was prepared in the form of prints, wooden standees, and most notably a full 'making of' book, written and published with the support of Frederiksberg Fonden.
Art by Sif Savery
Art by Sif Savery
Art by Sif Savery
EXHIBITION
Upon the release of the film, an exhibition was held in Copenhagen, and subsequently in Viborg. The exhibition gives a look into the process behind hand-drawn animation.
