Moonlight Prairie
Moonlight Prairie
About
Inspired by dreamlike worlds and serene color palettes, Moonlight Prairie is a small game scene featuring a unique mouse cowboy maneuvering through the ancient magical ruins of a land he never met.
Solo Project
Moonlight Prairie was done entirely on my own. From the original sketches and color choices to the asset animations, each aspect of this project is uniquely my own.
Software
For this project, I wore many hats. While time constraints proved to put pressure on me during this process, I believe that I ultimately came out of this project better at my craft.
Though a single scene, Moonlight Prairie is the culmination of years of artistic and narrative work, all put together over the course of five months.
Project Workflow
1.
Planning + Conceptualizing
Planning included a series of thumbnail sketches for both the characters and environments, with a long time spent on refining the selected designs. This part took the most intention and creativity, everything else built off of this crucial phase.
2.
Rough Work
The next step required a lot more technical animation skill than any of the other parts. With my character and environments set up, I had to create rough animations based on the intended personality of the character and his surroundings. The wind blowing needed to feel ethereal while still being believeable, a shimsical creature like a cowboy mouse had to move in a way that made him seem grumpy and pessimistic.
3.
Refinement
The refinement stage includes both the coloring and animation lining phases. This part ended up being the most tedious, but most rewarding. This is the point during which burnout began to set in, but the creation of a home for this character helped me keep going.
4.
Putting It All Together
Break down your methodology into clear phases or stages that demonstrate your organized approach. Include timelines, deliverables, and client involvement at each step to set clear expectations.