From Script to Screen: Revision/Ideas

After having benefited too from a productive brainstorm with Phil, one of the concepts we developed and which seemed to be the more compelling was a 'character vs character' pirate adventure set in the miniature world of bugs (the idea having first originated from an insect called the 'minute pirate bug'). 

Revision of the set-up

Under the half-shade of thick foliage, a piece of leave is seen sticking onto the threads of a cobweb. A hand retrieves it as the camera reveals a pirate bug holding a larger leaf (which looks as though it’s been fragmented and then stuck back together). The leaf is subsequently shown to be a treasure map, getting some screen-time as the pirate adds the recently-found last missing bit. Out of nowhere, another bug appears dramatically and snatches it out of the first bug's hands. Grinning victoriously, the thief exchanges a look with its baffled/angry rival and so the chase is on. 

   

(For its introduction, the first bug could be seen as approaching the last piece of map on a floating leaf, rowing boat-style, but this might slow down the action.) 

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On a side note, here are a few thoughts I came up with in term of design/tropes before the OGR:

- Pirate features would blend naturally into the insects’ bodies

- Stylised characters and vegetation but fairly ‘realistic’ texturing.  

- Props: vegetal-looking plunger, shovel, axe, pick, cannon, dynamite, etc. 

- I had initially seen the rivalry and piracy trope as an opportunity to design two distinctive collections of characters that would regroup several insect species. On one side, an intimidating, monochromatic crew composed of rhinoceros beetles, cuckoo bees, cicadas and moths. On the other, a more colourful, slightly burlesque but elegant equipage involving yellow jackets, pirate bugs, bumblebees, dragonflies, etc. However, I can see why reducing the number of characters can be more efficient in the case of 1 minute long animation.

- Insect stings as swords 

- I had already considered using greenflies and fireflies as parrots but I reckon grubs could work too.

- Ships might not be necessary to the story but if they ever come into play I would imagine a contrasting look as well to tell the rival vessels apart: one built with bark, dry wood, dead leaves, spider webs, etc. / its counterpart made out of green leaves, walnuts, fern etc. 

- While Phil was envisaging the idea of pirates as a child’s toy, he mentioned the interesting clash a change of perspective might generate in a story: if the main action feels very much epic and larger than life (i.e. heroic characters embarking on a journey), showing it under a new light can be an effective way of providing closure (ie. characters being actually a couple of toys – but heroes in their young owner’s mind). This is why I think stepping out of the intensity of the bugs’ competitiveness to show the insignificance of their battle through a human point of view is a good way to let the story breath and provide comic relief at the end.