Author: Rebecca Heath

Work Experience: Assisting Second Year Students

I was really excited to be able to work with another student after doing so many animation sole exercises. It’s a great opportunity to learn to work in a collaborative environment and as part of a team.
I’m working with Amber who’s folktale inspired film is an ideal project for my interests to work on. I’ve been assigned to focus on character designs and the colour pallets which are really suited to my illustration and print background. It’s really nice to have been given a lot of freedom style wise- Amber is keen for a collaborative approach to the film, citing Mary Blair and Over the Garden Wall as jumping off points for the general vibe of the project. Otherwise I just need to bring my ideas to her and see what works for the film.
The project is in the early stages so at the moment I’m mostly experimenting with different ideas and learning how to put together comprehensive character sheets and designs. I’m hoping to gain knowledge and experience of not only collaborating with another artist, but also gaining some insight in how to direct and produce a film in preparation for my own upcoming projects.
I’m really looking forward to seeing what this project will bring as I continue to work with Amber over the next few weeks.

Character design sketches

One of the major things I’ve been really struggling with is learning how to translate my drawings into animations. I’m used to drawing in a fairly rough style but with a fair amount of detail (particularly with hair) which at the moment feels quite difficult to master, particularly in a digital format.
I’m really trying to learn how to simplify my sketches whilst maintaining life and energy in the sketches. Going forward I want to work more with pen and pencil using the light boxes and experimenting more with traditional mediums but using the skills I’ve learnt over the last term.

Facial Acting

This is a prime example of where I need to learn to simplify my designs- I get too carried away with drawing hair.
I need to learn to exaggerate expressions and movement more, but I really enjoyed this exercise even if I did find myself struggling with it quite a bit at times. I happy with how the movement came out, just need to work on making things look less rough.

Latex Puppet Head: Sculpting the Head

  • Sculpt of head in Newplast
  • Prep for plaster casting
  • First half of plaster cast
  • Design Sketches
  • Wire Armature

Some process photos of the early stages of learning how to make a silicone head. With the armature inside (made from wire and miliput) the puppet will have a head with moveable mouth, eyebrows and ears. For my design I wanted to create a goblin type of character complete with big ears and little horns on the top of the head.

Walk Cycle

I had hoped to have a puppet with legs ready for this exercise (mermaid’s don’t exactly walk..) but the goblin puppet wasn’t quite ready to walk yet! So for the walk I used one of the Sticky-Bones puppets for the character of a not so loved King.
I really find animating with puppets oddly therapeutic- this may change as I work with more of my own puppets which will inevitably fall apart mid pose- but the process has been the most enjoyable and I think successful so far.
Over Easter I plan to look at After Effects tutorials to learn how to add in backgrounds and perhaps add in some 2D effects.


Flee : 2022


After months of anticipation I watched Flee over the weekend- it’s moving, tender and ultimately a story of surviving brutality. Unfortunately, Amin’s story is similar to that of many who’s homes are ripped apart by war, with it’s civilians left to struggle to find refuge. What makes this story different is the way it’s told- Yes it’s a documentary but Amin is telling his story to his high school friend, even more significant is that he has never told anyone his story before, not even his fiancé.
We as the audience are invited to sit in on the two friend’s conversations which instantly makes for a more personal connection .

Then of course is the animation-
Used to provide anonymity to Amin it is a practical solution- but it is also refreshing to see this type of story told through animation in a style that is full of colour and clean, stylised drawings.

It was the flashback sequences that I found most affecting. Desaturated of colour, we see faceless crowds run amongst the grey charcoal backgrounds, blurry and vague like the memories Amin is vocalising for the first time.

Deservedly nominated for an Oscar and BAFTA, the film showcases animated documentary in an accessible form that will push audiences to recognise the medium’s credibility to tell difficult stories.