A short animation film directed by ZEPE

SYnopsIS

A horticulturist, an engineer and a biologist all work in a remote biodiversity research and protection centre deep in the middle of a forest. They live in a greenhouse-type building, charged with pollinating a vast area of wilderness and conducting research with a view to creating and differentiating vegetable species. The day-to-day existence of this small team goes calmly and routinely until, one night, the stars realign and all the beings that inhabit the area around the trio become uniform and dangerously aggressive towards their neighbours.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

Character A

A is the horticulturist. Tall, gangly and ungainly, he is in charge of looking after the plants created in the greenhouse plant nursery. Absentminded and forgetful, A likes to take things easy and nap occasionally. However, he has a loud snore that annoys his teammates, particularly B. Of the three characters, he’s the one who has more direct, physical contact with the vegetable world, which sets him apart from B’s methodical doubting and the scientific certainties of C.

Character B

Burly and fat, he zealously carries out his daily mission to check that all the apparatus in the greenhouse is working properly. In contrast to A who procrastinates, and C who speeds ahead, B is given to reflecting on the meaning and purpose of his work. So, he’s constantly uneasy and assailed by doubts that lead him to fancying something is not quite right in that colourful and harmonious setting.
gif_C

Character C

C is the biologist. Highly strung and hyperactive, C is a workaholic dedicated to the cause of species diversification. Trying to mould the chance designs of diversity using his biotechnology tools, C lives in the isolated silence of the laboratory where he spends his days. At times, he is so engrossed that he forgets night exists and he’ll fall asleep hunched over his microscope.

GRAPHICS_STUDIES

Estudos_PB_1
Estudos_PB_2
Estudos_PB_3
Estudos_PB_4
Estudos_PB_5
Estudos_PB_6

SETTINGS_STUDIES

2
3
4
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

TECHNIQUES

THE CYCLE combines traditional animation and 2D and 3D animation techniques and processes, but instead of the techniques characteristic of 3D images, the attributes and particularities inherent to drawing are retained.
Seemingly simple and two-dimensional, the characters and settings are nevertheless extremely complex.
The characters, constructed in 3D, are changeable in every one of their components, which allows a closer approximation to the appeal and visual world of drawing.
These technical concerns are prevalent from the modeling of the characters, the creation of blend shapes, skeleton building (rigging) and structure deformers.
Post-production is also tackled in a non-conventional way, using filters, dynamic textures and differentiated shadow treatment to give settings and scenery a life of their own; specifically via subtle changes in light, colour and matter.
We intend to use innovative articulation of the space, dramaturgy and animation techniques, and various processes and technologies on this production.

CHARACTER MODELS

Modelos_1
Modelos_2
Modelos_3
Modelos_4
Modelos_5
Modelos_6
Modelos_7
Modelos_8
Modelos_9
Modelos_10
Modelos_11
Modelos_12
Modelos_13
Modelos_14
Modelos_15
Modelos_16
Modelos_17
Modelos_18
Modelos_19 A
Modelos_20 B
Modelos_21 C

3d MODELS

3d OBJECTS_STUDIES

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

COLOR PALETTE

ANIMATIC LAYOUT

DYNAMIC SETS

MODEL DEFORMATION

ANIMATION TESTS

CREDITS

Original Concept & Creative Director: José Pedro Cavalheiro (Zepe)
Screenplay: Regina Guimarães e José Pedro Cavalheiro (Zepe) 
Graphics, Characters & Storyboard: José Pedro Cavalheiro (Zepe) 
Chromatic Models & Background Painting:  Joana Teixeira
Motion Studies:  Joana Teixeira, Inês Teixeira e Francisco Santos
Background Draft: José Pedro Cavalheiro (Zepe)
Background Development: Rui Gonçalves
Background Painting: Joana Teixeira
3D Modeling: Luís Soares e Beatriz Lopes
3D Character Rigging: James Thompson
Layout: Rui Gonçalves
Layout Assistant: Inês Caldeira
Animation Director: Rui Gonçalves e José Pedro Cavalheiro (Zepe)
Animation 3D: João Dias e Luís Soares
Animation 2D: Luís Soares, Joana Teixeira, Ana Patrícia Almeida, Tiago Coimbra e Inês Castelhano
Compositing & Post-Production: Luís Soares
Music: João Lucas

Teaser – Production Team: AIM – Estúdios de Animação
Teaser – Executive Producer: Jonas César
Teaser – Producer & Animation Director: José Teixeira
Teaser – Technical Director: José Fernandes
Teaser – Sound Director: André Aires
Teaser – Color: Joana Teixeira

Production Secretary: Cátia Martins
Production Coordinator: Luís Soares
Production Manager: José Pedro Cavalheiro (Zepe)
Producer: Luís Correia

Production:

Logo Ocidental

CO-PRODUCERS

AIM – Estúdios de Animação
(Development & Pre-Production)

Financial support

José Pedro Cavalheiro (Zepe) é investigador do CIEBA