HAPPY LAND update

slowtiger · Post by **slowtiger** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:04 am

That was an April's Fool joke, wasn't it? You don't mean that serious, don't you? Tell me it was a joke, please!

(Oh - was that your face??)

Kadoogan · Post by **Kadoogan** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:39 pm

Lol! Actually you might use that as a totally different prospect. Happyland is good in it's own right the way you have it, IMO. Better stories could improve it...I actually enjoyed the one story I saw on Youtube that you had up as a sample.

Did you ever hit up Nickleodeon?

P.S. Glad you like my doggie avatar...tnx!

Kadoogan · Post by **Kadoogan** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:45 pm

My personal thoughts on your characters...I think restricting your character base would be a mistake. You actually have a setup where you can introduce any number of different characters whenever you need them, leaving your production open to any number of different stories - almost unlimited. It certainly could lead to a very wide appeal simply because anyone could relate to any particular character you introduce.

Sort of reminds me of sesame street in a way. You have a certain base of appealing regulars with fun and frivolous additions thrown in to accentuate stories and situations.

I still crack a smile every time I think of the end sequence of your youtube sample where the characters are riding the one giant character...

Mikdog · Post by **Mikdog** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 2:32 pm

He he, thanks man.

I agree, the faces thing is kind of weird, though it has a novelty factor to it. I took the video off.

The original idea, to have as many characters as needs be.

Did a bible for the series, was cool. Still looking for a writer for stories.

I watched this freaky film INLAND ISLAND and didn't sleep at all last night. Was inspired earlier in the day to make a character that beatboxes.

So I made BEATBOXING DAVE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAFqfGxqu0o

Kadoogan · Post by **Kadoogan** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:39 am

LOL! Loved your parody of your own show!

Mikdog · Post by **Mikdog** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 1:02 pm

Shot man

Another concept:

Princess Guava has been captured by King Pickle. Adventure Boy has to save her.

synthsin75 · Post by **synthsin75** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:20 pm

"Pickle you, Adventure Boy!! Muahahaha!"

That's what I hear him saying.

jahnocli · Post by **jahnocli** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:25 pm

"I'm going to rip your seeds out and show them to the rising sun as you die!" is what I hear -- but then, I've had problems with those voices before...

Genete · Post by **Genete** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:41 pm

I wonder how all your characters would interact with other objects without arms and hands...

BTW your drawings are nice!

-G

slowtiger · Post by **slowtiger** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:49 pm

I wonder how all your characters would interact with other objects without arms and hands

Where's the problem? The average Anime series character controls objects via telekinesis although the characters have hands ...

jhbmw007 · Post by **jhbmw007** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:21 pm

Hey Mikdog,

What program do you draw your concept designs in? thanks

Mikdog · Post by **Mikdog** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:57 pm

He he he. Nice

Telekinesis might be a good idea!

I do my concepts in Photoshop CS3. Bought a legal copy recently which was damn expensive but I'm glad I did it. I also use a WACOM INTUOS 3 tablet.

Still whittling an idea down while I wait to find the scriptwriter of my dreams.

Some more. Had this idea about a little bunny who's girlfriend is kidnapped by the evil Fire King. He has to rescue her and get past the flame minions by hopping on them a-la-Mario Bros.

Kind of trying to find a good premise for Happy Land. Struggling a little bit.

"Happy Landers live in Happy Land and they solve problems."

Kind of blandish. I put together a bible a while ago:

www.happyland.co.za/bible.php

But looking at it now it doesn't really tell you much.

I could put a baddie in Happy Land but that might mean re-aiming the series at a 6-8 year old crowd with wackier humour in the stories and wackier characters and voices.

Mikdog · Post by **Mikdog** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:31 pm

A little concept animation for Happy Bunny:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFrkAZt7txc

Mikdog · Post by **Mikdog** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:55 pm

Someone asked me how I got good quality video on YouTube.

I use iMovie to render out and it has a YouTube preset.

It renders out the movie as an MPEG-4 video file (.m4v)

480 x 360 pixels

25 fps (I don't think the FPS matters)

There ya go,

m

Mikdog · Post by **Mikdog** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:51 am

Okay, looks like I'm going to have to rethink Happy Land.

Thinking about going even simpler, with a Boy and a Girl who love each other, but a ninja who foils their attempts. Also even cuter:

Other option is to just have Heavy on a walk through a landscape that's filled with obstacles, much like a platformer video game, with gag after gag.

Could be fun. Kids can try and solve the problem before our hero does, and a lot of kids like video games. Also, it'll be funny.

m