LO1

INTRODUCTION

Miyazaki Hayao, a reputable Japanese director, has influenced the world of animation and brought forth fresh, surreal, and fantastical concepts to life through meticulous hand-drawn animation. He is well-known for his award-winning films Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and a select few others that have garnered popularity and inspiration throughout the animation industry. (Ray M, 2009)

His journey toward a creative field began during the transition from his completed studies in economics to an entry-level animator position in Toei animation, finding a lifelong friend, Takahata Isao, and his future wife, Ota Akemi.

The world of Ghibli and its approach is made distinctive by its attention to detail, hand-drawn animations, and richly crafted worlds. Visually, it features lush and vibrant environments that are both impressively realistic and childlike. It seamlessly combines mundane settings with magical and extraordinary elements. Concept artwork for Ghibli scenery is often displayed in soft watercolor, whilst more refined concepts are similar to bold pastels.

Their films star complex characters, often accompanied by young protagonists who embark on journeys that foster self-discovery and personal growth. Conflicts and challenges are universally recognized, accentuated by love, loss, and the duality of human nature. Their tear-jerking music is beautifully composed by Ghibli's Joe Hisaishi, which enhances the intense climaxes presented in their animations. Storyboard artists and animators use Japanese ink brushes and cotton watercolor paper to create compelling and natural work. (Animation Obsessive, 2022)

There's a particular film that I find fantastic with its scenery and characters. Kiki's Delivery Service, released in 1989, is a fantasy film that follows a young witch named Kiki and her cat Jiji as she starts a flying courier service.

The movie is a delightful tale that focuses on character and texture rather than a plot, offering a fresh, serene experience. Heart-warming, light, and airy-- it's a wonderfully quiet narrative to unwind.

What appealed to me most were the visuals and floaty animation. As a witch, Kiki is often seen gliding through the air on her broom, creating a gorgeous bird's eye view that moves smoothly below her. The clean world-building and how the environment fits together snugly add to the consistent tranquility.

Each scene, from the bakery to the town, and the lively nature, is orchestrated with such care and love poured into the production.

LO2

MARKIPLIER

Mark Edward Fischbach, commonly known online as Markiplier, is an American YouTuber, actor, and filmmaker. He oftentimes uploads Let's Plays and is famous for his playthroughs on most Five Nights at Freddy's games and fan reiterations. (Fandom.com, 2022)

He is a respected and admired YouTuber; with his unique video formatting with his editor LixianTV, creating his original films and interactive simulations, connecting with his audience, and is incredibly clever with his channel's content.

He also created a clothing brand in collaboration with Scott Cawthon's Five Nights at Freddy's and Mojang Studio's Minecraft, named CLOAK.

He has a comedy podcast with friends Wade Barnes and Bob Muyskens called Distractible, where they discuss funny, interesting, and deviant stories and scenarios from everyday life.

He has an upcoming film which he announced its production in 2023 titled Iron Lung, making it his first-ever feature film. It is heavily based on the 2022 submarine horror game with the same title. In the game, players play as a convict tasked with exploring a sea of blood on a remote moon after a cataclysmic event called The Great Rapture, resulting in the disappearance of fit to live in planets and stars. (Szymanski D, 2022)

CHARACTER DESIGN

I had to first decide what kind of character I wanted to make a drawing with. Did I want to proceed with a groggy middle-aged detective or a mythical fantasy creature?

I went with a girl that dons a kimono. Since I'm using Hayao Miyazaki's work as my inspiration and core topic when writing, I wanted her to give off the same bubbly demeanor a Ghibli character provides.

Personality-wise, I designed her to be rather childish with a morbid curiosity for the supernatural. She'd scamper out of home in hopes of catching sight of any legends she would hear from her village. 

Instead of being scared, she's instead intrigued and fascinated by the concept of spirits and fantastical beings. She feels genuinely touched to the core when approaching shrines dedicated to deity.

The bottom picture are some silhouettes I created in her image to define her lineart more.

EVALUATION

I think I did exceptionally well for my character design and the final illustration as it mirrors Miyazaki's style and caters to the watercolor, soft pastel vibe that is prevalent in his work. 

For the research, I really enjoyed making forms to gather primary research, however did struggle in creating questions. I'd like to pick a popular individual that has more substance and material to work with next time as I was limited with Markiplier's mostly digital presence, like an actor or author.

I liked explaining both careers and their achievements, projects, and external links. I developed the abilities to collect primary research for all medias and also how to reference films, books, and video games.

I'd probably improve by finding creators that are easier to reference and also take a step further with Miyazaki's style by illustrating a piece that looks like a frame from one of his films rather than concept art. 

It would've also been beneficial to research more about Harvard referencing earlier than later.