What was this for?
Ravenscroft Express was a collaborative animation project made for our ANIM-372 Collaborative Experience: 2D production Pipeline class.
What Programs were used for Animation?
The layouts were completed on Adobe Photoshop, with Toon Boom Harmony used as our animation software. The final compositing was completed on Adobe After Effects, with editing on Adobe Premiere.
What program was used for communication?
Classes were moved online from on-ground learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and our members were scattered across the globe. For class time, we used Zoom to communicate with each other. During off hours, we had to accommodate the members' different time zones (Louise and Amber were a whole 12 hours ahead of EST!) by using Discord to post updates and critiques on our server.
How long did this take to make?
A typical quarter for SCAD lasts 10 weeks, however due to the pandemic, our quarter was shortened to 9 weeks. Our units or academic weeks fluctuated in length, some being as short as 4 days, or as long as 5-6 days. The schedule challenged each and every one of us for sure, as we had to keep a constant eye as to when each week was really over.
Why is there a succubus?
On the day we all met as teammates, Ashyln suggested adding a succubus. The team got a kick out of it and agreed to add it.
Why a Train?
Short Answer: Because Louise loves trains, that's all.
Long Answer: There is a lot of potential when you set a story on a train. Unlike most settings, when you set a story on a train, the setting itself is moving along various locations. There is also storytelling potential, a train constantly moves forward to different places and that itself can be a metaphor for many things. There are also stories to be told about the people who commute on the train. Many types of commuters come onto trains and each and every passenger has a little story of their own.
In conclusion, when you tell a story on a train, you are taking the audience on a journey.