An Animation around human impact on Marine life
Blood in the Water
Blood in the Water
Collaborative Project: Roles - Director, Writer, Stroyboard Artist, Charcter Designer, Sound Designer, 2D Animator, Editor
Blood in the Water is a dark narrative, disguised as a child's film, told through the eyes of two marine creatures on the subject of human crulty against sea life. With themes of Shark finning, whaling and coral discruction, this film strives to have a emotional impact on audiences to inspire awareness and attention on the deaths of the voiceless behind closed industrial doors. While this was a group project done in threes, this was my passion project i had created after months of research into the fishing industries, coral impact and the history of fishing cruelty worldwise that is a close narrative to my heart that i wanted to make a reality. In this project, i led it forward as the Director, The Editor, the Character designer and storyboard artist as well as sound artist and 2D Animator.
The story follows Bubbles, a lively clownfish who deeply loves her home on the coral reefs, thriving in the salty waters where vibrant fishes swam and the sharks roamed freely with no care. One of them, a white tipped reef shark that goes by Kaimana takes care of her as a guardian figure and protector. However, despite his numerous warnings, Bubbles swims to close to the surface and witnesses the true horrors of the surface dwellers as they brutality massacare a humpback whale, she s then captured in their netting. Trying to save her, Kaimana ends up severely injured and captured as well. The two wake up in a hellish cold factory of blood covered steel counters and the dead bodies of their friends, robotic arms working automatcally as killers as they prpeared the fishes for sale.
One of the two portagonists of 'Blood in the Water' is Kaimana. Based upon the white tip reef shark, Kaiamana character is presented to challenege the long standing steotype of sharks being the sea's monsters. He is presented as grumpy, rude and short tempered - but under it all, to Bubbles, he is patient and sincere as well as protective.
With the main theme of this animation being shark finning, it was based upon research that White tip reef sharks are both docile towards humans, but also a target of the horrible act of shark finning. Kaimana's fate is sealed, however, his story will act as a eyeopener to audience about this illegal and cruel practise, helping to question the ethics that goes into the industry and the cruelty that has been ignored up to now.
To create his design, shape theory was a key element i considered. His form consists of sharper edges to reflect the 'dangerous predetor' he is, but also sqaures for his frame and muscules to show he is not only just a reliable character, but one that can be depended on and that is brave and strong. To hint at human effect, he has scars on his body, some from his past by other fishes, and others from humans. I kept his colour pallette more colder and prey just like the shark, this allow his character to complement the second portagnists colour scheme.
Representing innocence is Bubbles, a lively clownfish child who loves her home on the reef dearly. She acts as the allegorithic mirror of how fishes are caught in a unsustabale way and used only for profit in a commercialism fueld world. With a child character, this animation has the chance to appeal to audience's emotions to sypmathsize and evoke reflection on actions towards marine life. Her colour pallete, much like the clownfish, contrasts with Kaimana's colder tones and acts as a visual heirachy so the audience can always have a visual on her through the animation. Her design consists of many curves and round shapes, symbolziing her bubbly and whimiscal personality that she has a young child.
She always sees the best in people and Kaimana is no different, while others fear him, she sees him as a comforting protective presence that she can trust and follow. To the audience, this will reframe a commonly seen villain as a carer and protector, looking out for a fish that is a representation of childhood innocence in the face of violence.
Stroyboard - Blood in the Waters
