"How Does It Taste?" | 2D Animation | Adobe Animate | 2023
“How Does It Taste?” is a psychological horror about a group of fairytale friends who find a strange fruit that changes everything into food but soon find out what horrors it's caused.
I created this animation for my degree project. The idea was inspired by the creations on YouTube such as Learning With Pibby and Don't Hug Me I'm Scared, where the mediums that were chosen make them seem that they were made for younger audiences, but actually have very mature themes. Many people are under the impression that animation is only meant for children. What I want people to get from this project is that appearances can sometimes be misleading. I want people to learn how to not judge things based on their outward appearances because they can be purposely deceiving.
This project was a process I worked on over the course of 3 semesters. Ideation and proof of concept were worked on over the course of two classes that culminated in 8 weeks of making the assets and doing the animation.
Process
Idea
Before I even came up with the story for my animation, I created concept sketches for some characters. Along the way, I started the process by brainstorming concepts and themes that aligned with the characters and their personalities. I refined these ideas into a clear vision which led me to finally get to work.
Jaelynn Mitchell | "How Does It Taste?" | 2023 | Character Concept Sketches
Jaelynn Mitchell | "How Does It Taste?" | 2023 | Narration Script
Script
I then started working on a script, outlining how I wanted narration and actions to shape the story’s flow. I wanted the characters not to speak. Instead, having their actions told by a Narrator. It made the animation have this storybook feel to it and I wanted to enhance that further by having the narration rhyme. I was heavily inspired by the likes of Dr. Seuss and his simple yet effective pattern. This script became the blueprint for the animation.
Storyboard
Next, I visualized the script through rough sketches in a storyboard, mapping out key scenes and movements. This step helped me plan the pacing, framing, and flow of action, providing a visual guide for the project.
Jaelynn Mitchell | "How Does It Taste?" | 2023 | Storyboard
Animatic
Jaelynn Mitchell | 2022 | Animatic
I then created an animatic by adding timing and basic motion to the storyboard. This step helped me visualize timing and progression when it came time to make the animation and refine the storytelling.
Characters
To bring the story to life, I designed characters from various angles, making sure each was rendered and created so that they all felt like they were of the same world. The individual parts of the body (body, limbs, and eyes) were all created on separate layers so that when it came time to animation I could move each piece as a tween, giving the characters a puppet-like way of moving.
Jaelynn Mitchell | "How Does It Taste?" | 2023 | Digital | Character Progression
Background
I crafted backgrounds to complement the characters and enhance the mood of each scene. Attention to detail, lighting, and perspective helped create immersive environments.
Jaelynn Mitchell | "How Does It Taste?" | 2023 | Digital | Background Progression
Jaelynn Mitchell | "How Does It Taste?" | 2023 | Digital | Stills
Demo Reel
Jaelynn Mitchell | Animation Demo Reel