Yi-Ting Ho / Thesis 1 / Jane PironeA little Adventure with A little Man

IntroductionIntroduction

As a child, I grew up watching anime and reading manga. I have always liked to create my own stories. For my theme for Thesis, I wanted to create original story based on my in-terests in mystery, fantasy and the historical culture during 19th century. The Victorian Era is a Era that I am specifical-ly interested in. So my thesis project, is going to be two sto-ries that I create and design, one is in animation and one is in manga(comic book). The two methods are the best way to showcase all the skills I have learned and am interested in.

My goal is to create an intriguing story that includes steampunk, alchemy and magic. The basic clothing and environmental design will be based on a steampunk aesthetic. Inspiration is also being drown from a alchemy and magic to gain exposure to fantasy technology. Researching historical alchemical and magical symbols, in addition to late 19th century culture will also provide me with a base knowledge, so that I can show the world and life-style I imagine in the most believable manner. By doing this through a pseudo-historical setting, a sense of truth and reality will be added to my fantasy world.

Mind MapsVictorian Era/ Lost Fantasy Civilization / Mythology

IntroductionIntroduction

As a child, I grew up watching anime and reading manga. I have always liked to create my own stories. For my theme for Thesis, I wanted to create original story based on my interests in mystery, fantasy and the historical culture during 19th century. The Victorian Era is a Era that I am specifically interested in. So my thesis project, is going to be two stories that I create and design, one is in animation and one is in manga(comic book). The two methods are the best way to showcase all the skills I have learned and am interested in.

Research/ InspirationShinbou Akiyuki

Shinbou Akiyuki is a Japanese anime director who has a very strong style. He often uses silhouettes, collages, exaggerated perspective, and bright colors in his work.By quickly flash-ing images and scenes, he can use very little animation while still creating a rich environment.1 In his animations, he often works with Gekidan Inu Curry, which is an animation studio that designs a lot of special visual effects and cute images by using collage.

Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Research/ InspirationIkuhara Kunihiko

Ikuhara Kunihiko is a lso a Japanese anime director, he uses a lot of symbolism, metaphor, and exaggeration.1 Very often he uses hand movements and flowers to show a character’s feeling. Watching the anime that he directs, each episode is like a puzzle piece, and when the viewer finishes the whole series, the puzzle becomes complete and you get to see the entirety of a huge, gorgeous picture.

Mawaru-Penguindrum Revolutionary Girl Utena

DirectionsSteampunk

Shinbou Akiyuki is a Japanese anime director who has a very strong style. He often uses silhouettes, collages, exaggerated perspective, and bright colors in his work.By quickly flash-ing images and scenes, he can use very little animation while still creating a rich environment.1 In his animations, he often works with Gekidan Inu Curry, which is an animation studio that designs a lot of special visual effects and cute images by using collage.

Utopian flying machines of the previous century Author G. D. Falksen

DirectionsAlchemy/ Magic

During medieval times, alchemy served as a fore-father of chem-istry, and had its own language of symbols. Today it is often related with astrology, mythology and witchcraft.1 Alchemist performed experiments, trying to turn iron into gold, and to create the philosopher’s stone. A stone said to have the power to do anything.

19th century engraving of Homunculus from Goethe’s Faust part II Tree of life

IntroductionIntroduction

As a child, I grew up watching anime and reading manga. I have always liked to create my own stories. For my theme for Thesis, I wanted to create original story based on my interests in mystery, fantasy and the historical culture during 19th century. The Victorian Era is a Era that I am specifically interested in. So my thesis project, is going to be two stories that I create and design, one is in animation and one is in manga(comic book). The two methods are the best way to showcase all the skills I have learned and am interested in.

Character Lineup

IntroductionIntroductionCharacter

Jou Bombastus

Paracelsus

Jou Bombastus is the protagonist, s/he is an androgynous character, in “A little Adventure with A little Man”, s/he is a young adult who is flirty, frivolous and mysterious; someone who has great confidence and luck. In “A little Adventure”, Jou is still a child and still mysterious, but is also curious, and brave.

The last name comes from the great alchemist, Paracelsus (Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim) . who in legends created the homunculus.1 Jou is a distant de-scendant son of Paracelsus, in the story I create. In my tale, Par-acelsus, as he is dying does not want the secret of homunculus revealed, so he casts a little spell on his blood-line, in which only his descendants who possess a talent for alchemy will be able to unlock the secret. It is the Climax in “A little Adventure”.

IntroductionIntroduction

As a child, I grew up watching anime and reading manga. I have always liked to create my own stories. For my theme for Thesis, I wanted to create original story based on my interests in mystery, fantasy and the historical culture during 19th century. The Victorian Era is a Era that I am specifically interested in. So my thesis project, is going to be two stories that I create and design, one is in animation and one is in manga(comic book). The two methods are the best way to showcase all the skills I have learned and am interested in.

CharacterHuey

Homunculus

Huey, the homunculus created by Paracelsus, is another pro-tagonist. It is loud, energetic, and knowledgeable. It is gender-less and only a foot tall. Huey travels outdooe in a robot created by Jou, and uses magic to control it.

Homunculus is a creature who can only live in a flask and needs neither food nor sleep.

IntroductionIntroductionCharacter

Mammona

Mammon

Mammona is a character who only appears in the manga. She serves as the antagonist. She is a greedy witch who believes that the homunculus knows the secret of how to become immortal.

Her name is derived from the term, “Mammon ” form the Christian Bible. The term relates to greedy and is Seven princes of Hell.

IntroductionIntroduction

As a child, I grew up watching anime and reading manga. I have always liked to create my own stories. For my theme for Thesis, I wanted to create original story based on my interests in mystery, fantasy and the historical culture during 19th century. The Victorian Era is a Era that I am specifically interested in. So my thesis project, is going to be two stories that I create and design, one is in animation and one is in manga(comic book). The two methods are the best way to showcase all the skills I have learned and am interested in.

Story/ MangaA little Adventure with A little Man

The story begins with Jou, the protagonist, waking up late and consequently running late to a meeting. While getting dressed, Jou argues with Huey(a humunculus).  They plot to dress Jou up as the opposite gender of their new client to ease negotiations. Unable to decide whether their new client will be a man or a woman, they decided to make a bet. Jou was rooting for the client to be a man, and Huey for the opposite.

It is the “Day of the Wind God”, when the God of Winds walks about the city. When Jou and Huey get to the meeting place, they find out that the client is a woman. Jou decides to change quickly, but as Jou is switching costumes, the client suddenly shows up from behind.

The client’s name is Mammona. She is not from the city and she seems to be very interested in Huey (in the robot).They start to talk business, but it does not go well. Mammona decides to use violence to get what she wants. So Jou and Mammona start to fight. Jou does not want to fight, and runs around in the building trying to escape. Jou and Huey run away in different directions, but Mammona decides to keep attacking Jou. While they are fighting intensely on the roof, a strong wind blows up and flips Mammona’s dress up. Jou finds out that Mammona is not a woman. Jou jumps off the building and races Mammo-na to the ground. It is 12 o’clock, “The Hour of Shifting Winds”. Mammona, because she is not from that region, is not familiar with the local magic/Gods. Jou however realizes that the winds are changing, so while Mammona is still struggling in the air, Jou reaches the ground first, and triggers a magic circle that Huey has prepared this unleashes a powerful spell. Jou wins the fight.

Story/ MangaA little Adventure with A little Man

1- Jou wakes up late- Jou and Huey are fighting about whether or not the client is  going to be a woman or man.They plot to dress Jou up as the opposite gender of their new client to ease negotiations. They decide to make a bet.

2- Jou puts Huey into a robot which Huey can control with magic. And they hurry out.

3- They are running on the street.- It is the day of the God of Wind.- At the same time, show the city and the view of the world. (in Adult’s view.)

4- When they get there they find out that the client, Mammona, is a woman so Jou changes back to men’s apparel.

5- Suddenly Mammona comes up and talk to Jou, and they start to talk.- Mammona seems to be interested to Huey(robot).- Mammona is not from the city.

IntroductionIntroduction

As a child, I grew up watching anime and reading manga. I have always liked to create my own stories. For my theme for Thesis, I wanted to create original story based on my interests in mystery, fantasy and the historical culture during 19th century. The Victorian Era is a Era that I am specifically interested in. So my thesis project, is going to be two stories that I create and design, one is in animation and one is in manga(comic book). The two methods are the best way to showcase all the skills I have learned and am interested in.

Story/ MangaA little Adventure with A little Man

6- The discussion does not go well, and Mammona attacks Joe.- Jou and Huey run away to different direction, but Mammona persues Jou.

7- Jou and Mammona run up to the roof.- They are squaring off with each other.

8- It is 12 o’clock in the afternoon.- Suddenly a very strong wind blows from below and flips Mammona’s dress up.- Jou see whats under Mammona’s dress and Jou find out that Mammona is not a woman.- Mammona is very embarrassed and mad.

9- Jou jumps off the building and Mammona follows Jou.- They each race to land first, so as to gain an advantage over the other.- 12 o’clock, the hour of Shifting Winds. Mammona because she is not from that region is not familiar with the local magic/Gods, Jou however realizes that the winds are changing.

10- So while Mammona is still struggling in the air, Jou reaches the ground first, and triggers a magic circle that Huey has prepared. Jou wins the fight.- After Jou and Huey defeat Mammona, Jou tries to explain to Huey that Mam-mona is a man and Jou wins the bet.- Huey does not believe Jou.-END

Story/ AnimationA little Adventure

Jou is running down the street to catch the train. S/he is going to grandpa’s house in the suburbs. When Jou gets to there, no one answers the door. While Jou does not know what to do, he sees a building not far off and out of curiosity decides to peek inside the house. Jou walks around the house and when he touches the back door, a small magic trigger goes off. The door opens. Behind the door is a near-endless spiral staircase leading down into the building. Jou walks down the stairs and emerges into a fantastic world. Jou walks around and finds a trick wall behind some boxes. Jou uses her/his hand to touch the wall, and it opens revealing into a little room. In the center of the room, Jou sees a little human in a flask and decides to talk to it.

IntroductionIntroduction

As a child, I grew up watching anime and reading manga. I have always liked to create my own stories. For my theme for Thesis, I wanted to create original story based on my interests in mystery, fantasy and the historical culture during 19th century. The Victorian Era is a Era that I am specifically interested in. So my thesis project, is going to be two stories that I create and design, one is in animation and one is in manga(comic book). The two methods are the best way to showcase all the skills I have learned and am interested in.

Story/ AnimationA little Adventure

1- Jou running on the street to catch a train.- Jou is on his way to Grandpa’s house.

2- Jou get on the train, sits by himself in the back, and looks outside of the win-dow.- Show the city and the view of the world (in children’s view.)

3- Jou gets Grandpa’s house, knocks the door, but no one responds.- Jou is attracted by a house not so far away and decides to go see whats in there.

4- Jou is peeking inside the house from the window.- No one is in the house.

5- Jou walk around the house and touches the door in the back of the house.- Magic is triggered by Jou’s hand(left) and the door opens.- There is a spiral staircase going down.

IntroductionIntroduction

As a child, I grew up watching anime and reading manga. I have always liked to create my own stories. For my theme for Thesis, I wanted to create original story based on my interests in mystery, fantasy and the historical culture during 19th century. The Victorian Era is a Era that I am specifically interested in. So my thesis project, is going to be two stories that I create and design, one is in animation and one is in manga(comic book). The two methods are the best way to showcase all the skills I have learned and am interested in.

Story/ AnimationA little Adventure

6- Jou can not hold back his curiosity, and continues..- It is a very long way.

7- Jou gets to the bottom of the staircase.- It is a large storage room, and Jou is wandering around.

8- Jou finds an invisible wall behind all the boxes, and he uses his hand (left hand) to touch it.- The wall opens, behind it is a small room.

9- It is a warm dusty room, with a lot of books and weird materials. - The only light source if from the patio.- In the center of the room, Jou sees a little human in the flask.

10- And Joe decides to talk to the little human.