PROJECT 3 & FINAL PROJECT - GRAPHIC NOVEL & MOTION COMIC

 Project 3  - Graphic Novel 

This last project consists of 2 projects. First is project 3 "Graphic Novel" and the final project "Motion Comic".

In the graphic novel, where we need to create a comic with the character and comic panels. Meanwhile for the motion comic, is where we will make the comic into a motion film.

Project Brief

Imagine a character who got hit by a truck and woke up in a fantasy world where catgirls exist and magic is the key to power.

Yes, welcome to ‘ISEKAI’ or ‘ACCIDENTAL ADVENTURE’!

You are now tasked to create an introduction premise to a story where your character is teleported or sent into a new world with or without their consent.

Consider 3-act structures but with interesting twists and plots. Think of creating a premise for a concept of series with a tasteful cliffhanger ending. Use logline to help establish or build the suspense to your narrative 

Project limitations: 

1.  Must have the 3-act structure 

2.  Not more than 10 pages 

3.  Not more than 30 panels 

4.  Content must PG-13 and SAFE FOR WORK

Before we maker the comic, we have to make the narrative. In this narrative, I have to think first about the topic and continue with the 3Act structure.

One of the topics that I use is about the Komodo dragons and Komodo Island. Komodo is a protected animal and only has in Komodo Island, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia.

I decided to make a narrative story for this project about Komodo island. In this narrative, I want to bring a message to "PROTECT THE KOMODO DRAGONS".

Thus, this project will not only show about the character and graphic, but will give a message to people in Indonesia, and also to every people, that we need to protect our biodiversity.

Narrative Story

3 Act Structure

Act 1 : Setup

A long time ago, on Komodo Island, there is a myth that a human gave the komodo birth and also had his human twin brother. The human twin brother built a village and become the Komodo village leader. 

One day, the latest and powerful Komodo tribe leader passed away. Thus, his only son has to take over the position as a new tribe leader. However, he still a young boy, have no experience, and doesn't have any supernatural power. He only has the spirit to protect their tribe with the Komodo and every living creatures on Komodo Island.

Komodo is a wild animal and carnivore animal. Even though they hurt the Komodo tribe, The Komodo Tribe doesn't want to leave that island and still want to stay there because they believe that their tribe and Komodo should live alongside.

Act 2 : Conflict

After knowing that the influential Komodo tribe leader dead, many strangers want to take over that island. They believe if they eat komodo meat, they can be a powerful, supernatural, and long life. Then, the beautiful panorama of the island makes those strangers want to build e new modern city there to replace the old Komodo tribe.

Komodo dragon and the Komodo tribe are in significant danger. Those strangers started to kill Komodo with guns, trucks, and excavators to come to the island to build a construction. 

Meanwhile, the Komodo tribe are defenseless because they only can use their traditional weapon to fight with those strangers. They are unable to protect their tribe and Komodo dragons. If they cannot survive, just in 2 weeks, the island will be changed where all the tribes will die with the Komodo. Their only hope is their new tribe leader. But he still young, and at the age, he still doesn't receive any supernatural power. He wants to help as the leader but also doesn't know what to do.

To save all the Komodo tribes, all the elders and the new leader gathered to discuss this problem. One of the elders mentions about the myth of the Komodo Stick. He said that an old legend told that when the leader has the komodo stick, all the komodo will be benign and can give the leader supernatural power. However, it just a myth and the new leader does not believe in that story. He decided to go pray at his dad's tomb so that he can get any help.

One night, the previous leader come to his son in a night dream. His dad said that even still young, but the new leader have to save the Komodo island from strangers. Komodo dragons and the Komodo tribe cannot be separated and not leave the island. If one separated, the other one has to die. His dad told him that the myth about the Komodo Stick is a true story. There is a long story before our tribe assist, where a mother gave birth to humans and komodo, she gave a komodo stick as a symbol of family between humans and komodo. When the tribe leader holds the komodo stick, all the komodo will not be wild to the komodo tribe, and together they can protect the komodo island. Other than that, on the right hand, the komodo stick can give supernatural power to that person, which is the leader.

A long time ago, that komodo stick disappeared, which is why komodo became wild to humans, even to the Komodo tribe.

Before the end of the dream, his dad gives some wisdom.

"Don't come to my tomb to ask for help; the only people who can help you is yourself. Only you can save this komodo island because you have the pure blood from the ancestor of this island. Remember that this problem is just the beginning of your career as a leader. Never give up !" 

Then, the spiritual dream ended.

Act 3 ; Resolution

After that night's dream, the leader starts his journey to find that stick. He tries to ask all the elders, investigate and observe Komodo Island. 

Those strangers still continue their effort to kill all the komodo and build that island. 

The new leader has to speed up his finding for the Komodo stick.

 On the way of finding it, he looks like a weird Komodo. The color is different from the normal one. He follows that komodo and accidentally passed a supernatural gate to the other world where humans and wild animals live alongside in peace. It seems that the other world is very sacred, and only a few humans able to pass the gate.

To be continued.......

Graphic Novel Progression

After the narrative story, I have to come out with the style, character, and some sketches.

The challenging part of this project is about the character or human figure. Frankly, I am really bad at drawing human figures and characters. Thus, I tried first with some hand sketching of the Komodo tribe style and character. In this comic, I will show the traditional clothes that they use, the same color tone, the background landscape, background interior, and the text style.

For this project, I draw all the characters in Adobe Illustrator (AI) and continue with coloring, edit, panel composition, and post edit.

In photoshop, I have experience in editing and make some landscape with using brush and texture.

That experience i applied at here such as the wall interior using wood brush texture, the land and mountain using grunge texture brush, grash brush, and etc. In some progress i ashow how the different when just in color and after i add using the brush and texture.

Preliminary hand sketch - character

Preliminary sketch - Komodo Stick

Character / Human Figure 

Mountain base color

Traditional house base color

Interior wall base color without brush texture

Ground soil with grunge 

Soil without grunge and grass

Final scene progress

Final Graphic Novel

Sheet 1

Sheet 2

Sheet 3

Sheet 4

Sheet 5

Final Project - Motion Comic

After finished with the graphic novel, I had to turn it into a motion film. Where I have to make each sheet have the movement and combined all.

The problem here, I don't know how to use after effect as what the lecturer Mr. Faizal shows. Therefore, I decided to make all my sheets into GIF scenes, and I combined all scenes by using Adobe Premiere Pro. Fortunately, even I have a little bit problem with the duration of the GIF, but I can make the scene into the motion film.

Next is the GIF of each panel that I made. This GIF will show the movement that I made.

Final Compilaton - Motion Comic

Reflective Learning

This project is one of the most challenging because I also have my final project for the major course and for my thesis course. These 3 subjects have a similar due date to submit. My lack of experience in drawing character, made me worry about failing this project.

Fortunately, lecturers give more extension and I can continue doing my graphic novel with the motion comic after my final presentation for Advance Interior Architecture Design 1 (Major course in sem 6).

Aside from that, through this course and projects, I gained many new knowledge, skills, and experience. I practiced a lot how to use AI, make a GIF, how to use a pen tablet, and make a graphic novel. 

Looking back on my background and skills in manual architect sketching and urban sketch, Graphic Illustration is really challenging for me. If every drawing and idea I draw in my sketchbook, now I have to draw in a computer using the pen tablet.

However, I have to adjust and become more innovative. I believe the skills that I learned in this course will give me a lot of advantages in my future work. 

Many thanks also to Ms. Anis and Mr. Faizal as the lecturer and tutors who tech and help me a lot for this elective course.