[DAY 13] [DEVELOPMENT] Hanë Hairstyle Choices and Facial Features

The hairstyle of both Huppel and Hanë is quite important because their clothing design isn't really an option. In a dark environment, you will only want to view their facial features to determine who is who.
Same as Huppel, Hanë went through the same process with hairstyles. Hanë is much older then Huppel, so I wanted to make sure his hairstyle complimented his features and age. I felt Hanë was a much harder concept to come up with because he was quite a different character to what I am used to, I have not really attempted to make a male character stand out.

Hanë is drawn with Deaths clothes because Huppel will be manipulated by the presentation of his features. I wanted a memorable, wise and strict face, some what of a teacher pursuing quiet in a huge classroom. 

Results;

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Hairstyle 1; 0

Hairstyle 2; 0

Hairstyle 3; 5

Hairstyle 4; 3

Hairstyle 5; 4

Hairstyle 6; 0

Hairstyle 7; 5

Hairstyle 8; 10 (This one won overall.)

[DAY 12] [DEVELOPMENT] Huppel Hairstyle Choices and Facial Features

With hairstyles, I wanted to give each character a look which really stood out. One, because that way, the character is easily remembered and more easy to gain a relationship between a person and a character. Two, it has to suit the characters personal features, such as their face and figure. Complimenting hair is the key to successful characters.
With Huppel, I had a real struggle coming up with hair that she would suit. Being German, I didn't want to make her stereotypical. Instead, I went with a punk look, with her hair being blonde with very dark and dyed brown raccoon tails. I felt this gave Huppel more of a colour selection to her design, and was to be kept as her main hair colour design.

I then drew out 8 separate heads on Photoshop and did a few sketches of different types of hair styles. By this time, I also decided on Huppels facial features and eye colour. I then printed the copy out and went around asking people what hair cut style they preferred out of the 8 on the page. I also put the image on Facebook for people online to look at too.

Results;

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Hairstyle 1; 1

Hairstyle 2; 6 (This one won overall.)

Hairstyle 3; 2

Hairstyle 4; 1

Hairstyle 5; 0

Hairstyle 6; 0

Hairstyle 7; 4

Hairstyle 8; 1

[DAY 11] [DEVELOPMENT] Story Flowchart

Instead of doing a Story Board, I did a flowchart with images of the scenes in my mind. I gave a clear description so that I knew what was going on, and what I intended to do with each frame for my comic.

Here are each of the flowcharts. Each one contains information of all 5 choices, from start to the end. The colours are the choices that you can take, yet before them it would say "Choice 1" or "Choice 2" and so on. After the coloured actions, it says "Loss 1" or "Win 1", these will be the variables in which will determine your fate at the end of the comic. The 4 boxed and coloured items on the last flowchart are what happens if you have a certain number for one of the choices you make. 

I thought colour coding this flowchart and giving it variables would be a really good idea to make this comic more interesting, rather then flicking through it, with just one story. This is why I would like to do an interactive comic, because it's more interesting and you get more from it. You may even read through it again to get another ending. 

[DAY 10] [DEVELOPMENT] The Character Conclusion (Huppel, Hanë and Death)

Each of the characters I have lifted a back story for will be included into the comic in some form. The reason I researched about their backgrounds is so that each character has their own story to tell, so that the reader will understand the concepts I have in store for these characters. All characters will have a bone to pick with each other, but also show a possible emotional attachment.
I wanted to do this because it gave flavour to the story, and definitely makes a great perk to the structure of the whole comic itself.

Character Summery; 

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Huppel

Huppel is a German left handed Bassist who serves as a temporary backup for bands, playing for some of the most biggest bands in Germany. She has a heart of gold but vocabulary like a drunken sailor when she's pushed to her limit (which is most of the time, as she has a short temper). She's never had a clear relationship with anyone, because her lack of understanding of people and how to care for them. Being 21 has its problems, Huppel doesn't intend to go back to college, as she dropped out of a Music degree which she believed it was 'biased' with work. Huppel lives in one of the most roughest parts of Germany, Lichtenburg. She's working very hard to meet the needs of a new house in Berlin to start her life again. 

Hanë

A father of only one, Hanë became the only bit of family for Huppel ever since his wife passed. He started working on a Polymer Chemical Plant since he was 25, trying his best to climb his way to the top of management, but never being able to make it and stayed doing the dirty and dangerous jobs. To pass his spare time, he hosted a Fencing club for the younger generation, teaching them and his own daughter how to Fence. This kept him from going mad from all the work he had to do to keep his own lifestyle going. He was rugged and warn, but kept a happy face around others, though he knew one day his fatigue will some day get to him.

Hanë unfortunately died at the age of 49 from Lung Cancer. 

Death

Death, or the Grim Reaper, doesn't have a scythe. In fact, he can manipulate his own portal, his own world between the real and afterlife, to his own needs. If he needs a weapon, he would draw one as quick as a flash, Death isn't some one to toy with. However, Death has a soft side to it, as Death manipulates and changes into others against its opponents, Death takes on the feelings of the person, loosing itself inside another body and experiencing thoughts of emotion and despair.
Death is a Angel of the Gods, where he will do all in its power to make sure the job is done. Many people pass on into the after life each day, which makes Death's job very stressful. However, Death is not exactly real, and is a figment of the imagination, which is why it's easy for it to change forms.

[DAY 9] [RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT] The Figment of the Imagination (Death)

Death is called many things, but to Western Cultures it's known as the Grim Reaper. The Angel of Death passes humans to the other world, or the other life, which is explained in many Religions. In other stories, it's also a figure of fear and despair to those who pass on into the afterlife, and is the tie of your soul to both worlds. This concept of this character has been around for centuries, a skeletal creature with a huge scythe, to represent power and dominance.
In Christianity, Death is an evil power which is possessed by Satan, the creature that conquers hell. By destroying Death, this would be called "Eternal Life", which was obtained and accomplished by God, as discussed in the Revelation of John.
I feel Death, or Grim Reaper, is a representative of the happenings of our past, and controls your time of passing. But it cannot construct the death for you, it just takes your soul to the beyond. How a person dies is up to the Lord Almighty, and Death is just a messenger.

Death will be a manipulator, a constructor of passing and decision. I would like to make Death a main character in the story.
Obviously, this was a choice from the beginning as I was putting together a story. Death will deal with Huppel's passing, but also play with her mind. Death will be able to shape shift and counteract Huppel's decisions.

Death may not be an original character, and taken straight from old tales, I really like the idea of it being in this story. Not only is Death a historical character, but is known by many cultures, and will make sense to others reading my comic.

[DAY 8] [RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT] The Dangers of Chemical Plants (Hanë)

Chemical plants are there to manufacture multiple chemicals for products and materials that go on to other businesses. They use special units and processors to do this, and minimise contamination. Most plants process items separately such as foods, plastics & polymer, beverages, electricity, oil, gas, water and waste water which is then sent out to the correct places using funnels and tubing systems. What many people sometimes don't realise is how dangerous Chemical Plants can be, and how lethal they used to be. In 1960-1970's, the plants processed a lot of radiation which caused mutation in cells of the people working there, and caused Cancerous effects.
I have always imagined people who work in Plants to be husky and rough, quite a good build and pretty much ready for anything. The Chemical Industry was a hard job, and it's so demanding, offering good pay and discounts on many things.

Hanë worked on a Polymer Chemical Plant, and unfortunately died of Lung Cancer at the age of 49. His death will be used as a pressure point in the comic.
I wanted a decent, yet unfortunate, death story which is imprinted into the comic. Meaning it was to make a mark on Huppel's own life, and effect her in an emotional way.

This story will be used to distract or make Huppel a target. Considering she has no Mother to support Huppel, Hanë is the only family Huppel ever had.

[DAY 7] [RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT] The Importance of Music (Huppel)

Music, I feel, has a range of ways to change your personality or feeling towards things. Whether it's your thought about the world around you, inspiration to create something spectacular, or influence to become a musician or artist. It's all there, even though it's just so hard to see, bringing out the artistic side of any being.
Whilst you listen to music, there is a collaboration between your thoughts and the artist. It also effects the way we speak of things, and communicates to others what our personality is like just by our own music tastes. Now, it doesn't mean all of music is directed in that way, but it's quite common to see quiet people have light hearted music, and the people who are rowdy have harsh music tastes. 
I feel it's all so important to character creation because the way music influences and effects people in its own way, thus composing individual beings.

Huppel is a left handed Bassist, she's heavily involved in music, and I would love to base her personality on a musical instrument.
This has lead me to realise a few things; Having a musical based character means that I need to pick the right sort of attitude and personality. Not everyone is determined by their music tastes, there can be traits under the skin. Also, there can be people with a variety of musical tastes, so I'll have to be careful what personalities and traits I'm picking.

I don't want to give a musical attitude to Hanë because he has nothing to do with music himself. Hanë may have tastes in music, but because Huppel carries more of a musical side to her, I shall deal with Hanë a different way.

[DAY 6] [RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT] German Culture (Hanë and Huppel)

Both Hanë and Huppel come from Germany, as they are Father and Daughter, so I thought this research would be crucial. Germany is a heavily cultured country, full of great experiences and beautiful landmarks. I wanted to take a look on this because I knew that this subject would effect both Hanë and Huppel's personalities. I know I have already covered the basics of both characters personalities, but the way they influence their nationality to others would be a great in site and experience.

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Quick Notes;
Germany is full traits which are admirable in so many countries. Being polite, keeping their work life separate from their personal life, even giving a quick handshake to people they have just met to signal a 'Hello'. It's unlikely that everywhere in Germany carries out these traditional acts, but it's there. Like other places, Germans like to speak in German for formal reasons, because it's respectful to their own culture and well being.
Foods are a speciality in Germany, mostly containing meats and fruits in their common diet. Pork is the common meats served in restaurants and households, but parts of Germany serve a variety of other meats like Poultry and Beef. Many different types of sausage is sold in Germany, way over 1,000 types of sausage exists in supermarkets and shops (the same goes for breads, 300 types of breads are sold).
Musical influences in Germany are quite tight on Techno and Heavy Rock/Rock. However, in history, Germany is known for it's more classical music, composed by people like Beethoven and Mozart.
Sports for Germany these days are normally focused on more car related and football related things. The most successful Formula One driver is Michael Schumacher which is known by many others all across the globe, and gives a big name to German Engineering. As for football, Germany has won the FIFA World Cup 3 times and has hosted the FIFA World Cup 3 times, as well. Sports give a real big name to Germany for being one of the most successful countries for activities.

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I feel knowing this information really helps character development, and if I ever need to use it, the information is always there to help me make the perfect characters for my story.
Also, from this information, I created a Mood Board, describing how I feel what Germany is in a nutshell.

[DAY 5] [DEVELOPMENT] Textures and Drawing Style

For my comic, I wanted to have the same sort of style as Nawlz. Nawlz, the interactive comic, is a perfect example of a dark and dusky style. There may be a lot of colours used in it, but the textures say otherwise. What I have noticed about Nawlz is that it's quite detailed, but sketchy and quickly done to give that traditional edge.

First Panel of Nawlz.

I love this style because it gives feeling and beauty to images in a traditional and gorgeous manner. The use of colours shows the feeling of the place, and the distance of objects and buildings. The buildings are made from photo's themselves, however the characters are hand drawn. The texture differs in different places, with all the stock images dotted around, it's sometimes hard to tell the textures and details that are hidden in the panels, until you look close enough.
The text is styled like how a computer command center displays content and information. This is a gorgeous touch, and I felt gave feeling to the piece.

My textures

Examining the Nawlz take on texture and perspective, I decided to make my own texture and sketches for my comic. I waltzed around the rooms of my house, and outside to collect textures that were lying around which would fit into my comic. 

Brick Texture is the first texture I took. It wasn't really the texture I was looking for, for my comic, but the lumps and bumps it had on the brick itself was absolutely gorgeous, and I thought would be useful for some point in the comic.

Concrete Texture was taken from the garden shed. The colour turned into a yellow haze, but the lumps and bumps were perfect for a rough texture (like the brick), if it was ever needed for the comic.

Cork Texture is indeed an interesting texture. I fell in love with it so much, the colours that were optional in the cork really stood out, and would give great feel to my comic. However, the colour itself, was not how I wanted it to be. 

Fabric Texture came from the oven mittens. This gorgeous thread was a second option to be placed as clothing on top of both characters, through out each scene, but was scrapped as it didn't really fit with anything, and over complicated images.

Marble Texture is possibly my most favourite texture out of all of these textures. Not only does it fit the criteria of my comic, but I really like the colours and different mediums inside the image which really makes it work.

Rust Texture may be used for a colour reason at some points of a story. It has a gorgeous colour tone, splashed with oranges, reds and blacks, which gives a scary, dark look. This is what I want my comic to express to readers.

Stone Texture, possibly my least favourite out of the textures. It has too much depth, so when I added it to the image, it seem to ruin the image I was trying to create.

Tin Foil gave a crumpled a look. Quite good for a paper based comic, but unfortunately not what I wanted. It gave quite a good texture, though, and would be considered for other jobs.