Adaptation Part B: Interim Crit 27/03/15 - Oiwa Character Bible

Adaptation Part B: Interim Crit - Oiwa Character Bible

Adaptation Part B: Oiwa Orthorgraphic Sheet

Adaptation Part B: Oiwa Digital Paintings

Adaptation Part B: Oiwa Design Sheet

To decide on the final design, I decided I wanted to ask on social media for input, I had a decent number of responses which mainly leant towards 5. This helped me finally decide on the design to take forward.

Adaptation Part B: Process Research

One of the things Alan asked me to do was research into how exactly I'm going to model Oiwa for this project. I collected a few different processes for reference, mainly for her clothing and hair.

Adaptation Part B: Character Research - Ghosts and their kimonos

Since I've decided on developing my character as an onryo, I looked into more paintings that have depicted ghosts. As mentioned before, the typical design that represents ghosts is their white kimonos and long, straight black hair. Some are simple, others have extra layers for their kimono.

Kimono thumbnails 1-12:

Adaptation Part B: Character Spectrum

During my tutorial with Alan we discussed what type of character Oiwa will be like. On one side of the spectrum she could be a hysterical spirit like Regan MacNeil in the Exorcist, which Oiwa is depicted as in the original kabuki play or on the other hand I can depict her as an ominous presence such as characters like; Jennet Humfrye from the Woman in Black, Samara from the Ring or Kayako Saeki from the Grudge.

Design-wise, if I were to go with the "hysterical" character, the main design focus would be Oiwa's face deformations and balding hair.

For the more ominous characterisation, the main focus would be on her kimono, adding extra details like another layer, the obi design etc. As when it was being discussed, Alan suggested having her worldly injuries disappear once she becomes an onryo. The atmosphere for the final short animation will be considerably more haunting just with her eerie presence.

Adaptation Part B: Onryō Silhouettes

Using watercolours I quickly painted out simple silhouettes for Oiwa's onryō self.

Adaptation Part B: Edo Style Studies

As mentioned in this post, I'm looking at the types of kimonos in the Edo Period. I did some quick drawings of the furisode, kosode and the burial kimono.

 Furisode

Kosode

Burial Kimono

I also looked into the tied up hairstyles from both the working class and samurai class.