Highlight of the Thesis

The Exploration of Kawaii (Japanese Style) into Character Animation

Chapter 1 Introduction

In this chapter, the researcher will introduces the phenomenon of the kawaii. The researcher has seen the potential of the kawaii, it is because kawaii has appeared in a lot of fields such as web design, fashion, and lifestyle ideas tailored to various cultures of their own.

Research Question
- find out what are the elements in kawaii character
- understand the concept visual of the kawaii character appearing in the animation

Research Objective
- identify the elements of kawaii characters
- analyze the type of kawaii characters represented in animation that are appearing in the animation

Chapter 2 Literature Review

For the chapter literature review, the researcher has studied the context that are related with the research. That are:-

2.1       Kawaii

2.1.1     Element of kawaii

             2.1.1.1 Shapes

             2.1.1.2 Colors

2.2       Animation

2.2.1     Character Animation

2.3       Character Design

2.3.1     Kawaii Character Design

Chapter 3 Methodology
The researcher will conduct the case study as the research method. It will study 3 designers that apply kawaii element in their design. The researcher will observe the designer’s character design to find out the element that is the kawaii.

i. Simone Ledgno
ii. Silvia Portella
iii. Charuca

Storyboard

This is the storyboard of my "Fuman Character". The setting of the story is at a cafe. Therefore, the visual concept will have the element of cafe and kawaii.

Pull & Bear

This is the sitemap of the website Pull & Bear.

Trying Some Character Design

This is the character design that I try to create. For my final year project I try to create the character by using the food. I try to develop my "Fuman" character which mean Food and Human. Hope my final character design can be coming soon.

"Canimals"

Canimals is created by Voozclub Co., Ltd. It is South Korean CGI animated television series. I love the kawaii style of the character design in this animation. It is combine the can and animals. The character of the canimals included cat, rabbit, poodle, owl and so on. Besides that the background of this animation is interesting. It uses the real environment composing with the 3D animation character.

"Donutella"

This is one of the tokidoki character design named Donutella. It is comes from a planet where sugar is used as energy. One day while out scouting the milky way for a new fuel source in her donut U.F.O., Donutella discovered planet Earth. On Earth, Donutella was excited to find a lot of sweets and treats to fuel herself and her people. Almoinst stantly Donutella realized that it would be much better to start a sweet colony here and invite all of her friends than to go back home. (Retrieved from tokidoki official website)

"Tokidoki"

"Tokidoki" means something in Japanese. It is the Japanese inspired lifestyle brand created in 2005 by Italian artist Simone Legno. They are produce apparel, footwear, accessories and other products using art, iconic characters and the logo designed by Simone Legno. He is also incorporates Japanese pop culture and personal life experiences into his creations.

"Tokidoki is the hope, the hidden energy that everyone has inside, it gives us the strength to face a new day and dream about something positive and the hope that something magical will happen to us." - Simone Legno

Treatment

Working Title     

Fumans Escape *Fuman (Food + Human)

Theme  

Character Animation

Visual Style         

3D Animation

Visual Elements                

The setting of the story is a cafe  

Duration              

About 2 minute

Target Audience               

Children, age range about 9 until 12 years old and the young-at-heart adult, age range about 21 until 25 years old

Character Breakdown    

Milk

He is a brave and helpful person. He like play with Muffin and Cookie. Sometime, he will also stubborn when faced some problem. 

Muffin

She is a lovely girl. She like use the cream to decorate herself and become beautiful.

Cookie

He is a nice and clever boy. He can always manage the planning and thinking before doing something.Seem he is always think too much, so that he has a lot of  wrinkle on his face.

Cup 

He is paper cup. He loves being a troublemaker. He always likes to sabotage. When he knows Milk, Muffin and Cookie want to escape from the restaurant. He is trying to stop them escaping.

Audio Elements                

Background Music and Effects (Foley)

Rationale             

The research will been done to explore the Kawaii Japanese style and applied it into character animation. Therefore, Kawaii style elements has been used to create character design in this animation.

Technical             

The software will be used are Autodesk 3D Maya Software. The character design and the background will be created by 3D Maya Software.

Story outline      

Overall Synopsis

The story is occurring in a cafe. The Milk, Muffin and Cookie are friend at a cafe. They are friendly and cute. One day, they are see a poster that show vacation in the beach, so they are feel want to escape from the cafe and enjoy the vacation at beach. But, when they are planned to escape, the communication between them are listening by Cup. Cup is start to stop them escape from the restaurant. It uses the trap to prevent them escape. They use their brave and wisdom to overcome the problem they are facing. During the processing of escape, Cup has been falling from the table accidently by it's own trap. In the end, Milk, Muffin and Cookie are a successful escape from the cafe and enjoy the vacation at beach.

Constraints/Limitation   

In the processing of the animation, the way to model the character and the background in 3D will be the problem. That is because lacking of the experiences do modeling. Besides that, lacking of the software knowledge will also be the problem such as Autodesk 3D maya software. Therefore, tutorials and book will be needed to overcome the problem and getting help from the lecturers and supervisor.

My Topic

Finally, my topic of final year project was finalized already. Yeah!

I have the interested to do this research. That is because, I can research my favorite style "Kawaii".

I always like to design the 'cute' style in my project. Therefore, I decided to choose this topic as my final year project research -

The Exploration of Kawaii (Japanese Style) into Character Animation.

What is 'Kawaii'

'Kawaii' means 'adorable, sweet, and cute for Japanese. Kawaii can be identified easily, it is because it is always be applied to the thing that is very simple and childish in the form of graphics, geometry or curved shapes, bright color and etc.

Kawaii style is also frequently viewed as a genre aimed at children or the young-at-heart adult. This sort of design direction has far deeper roots and potential than its innocuous appearance gives it credit for. Kawaii permeates Japanese anime, comic, fashion and advertisement.