As of yet unnamed animation

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So as I've mentioned in a couple other places, I've been thinking about doing a series of flash animations.

I found out recently that Flash is an open format. That means that it is legal to produce content without having to buy some $800 program. (<Insert sarcastic software piracy comment here>. Seriously, I really tried to put a good one there and I couldn't come up with one)

I figure I have the potential for a pretty good story. Before I start up on it though, I want to get some practice with some simpler concepts. (Likely I'll do a few animations that are just random nonsense. You know, like Squirrels working at an Internet Service Provider. Or the secret lives of citrus fruits.)


The story itself will be in a Shadowrun type setting, and will revolve around the life of one character. Though there would be many other significant characters, it is ultimately his story, about his struggles.

He chooses the name Galgeron. It was not the name he was born with, but that is part of the point. He chooses his own identity, rather then the one that is given to him. On the other hand, even this in many ways has been defined by others, in how he has been treated. The guy ended up going through a lot, and it's poisoned him. He is aware of this, and he does not like it. (Both that even still who he is defined by others, and that he is 'poisoned')

Yeah. This is not going to be a happy story.

There would be three central themes.

The first would be about how 'actions tend to flow'. Hit someone, and they have a tendency to hit you back. If they are unable to, they are likely to take it out on someone else. If they can't, they might experience more damage, and are likely to strike out somewhat randomly with even more force. Although this sort of process can apply to 'positive' actions as well, the setting is a bleak, self destructive one. And this 'action flow' thing is more then something that's just something as arbitrary as 'good' and 'evil'. This story won't be nearly that binary. The process itself will be presented as having the potential to be mystical in origin.

The second theme would present the idea that nature and human society mirror each other. Environmental Damage because of how the 'mirror' works has the consequence of damage to human psychology. Not only that, but ultimately the same forces that are destroying the main character are the same ones that are damaging the Earth's ecosystems. It is presented as a possibility that the main character becomes something of an Agent of vengeance appointed by “The spirit of the earth”. An entity which would be kind of like 'god'. Not something which is capable of conscious thought, but does have a subconscious. It does not think, it reacts. Which explains the agent's of vengeance types. Given all kinds of magical power, they are to lash out at humanity. Murder and Destroy. And tying in with the first theme, violence will then flow. Violence which itself damages the earth. A self destructive system.

The third theme is about just how powerful people can be. Which is one of two possibilities. People are stronger then they think they are. At the very least, they at least have the potential to become stronger. Though it might be that 'just how powerful' we are still amounts to nothing because we are all in a universe that just does not care. This theme would focus primarily on the main character. He faces constant attacks at every angle. A lot of the time people might not even realize they are 'attacking' him. Frequently they will deny it, and accuse Galgeron of being paranoid to even think that. Of course, his greatest struggle is with himself, which will in a way be another character itself.

The thing is though, for all he has to put up with? He holds up remarkably well. Oh he's anything but well adjusted. He isn't able to control himself often. He will fall. But the guy just keeps coming back again and again. Galgeron is not a strong character because he has some fancy powers. It's not because he's dedicated to some cause. It's his mind that makes him strong. Both in terms of will, and intelligence.


How's that for a story concept?

I'd like to offer some encouragement! Your three central themes are powerful, I think any one of them is powerful enough to make a captivating story. Without knowing how you work, is it possible that focussing on a smaller target is more likely to result in finished work? I'm judging using my own behaviour where I often get over-ambituous and end up with nothing!

Have you any ideas on how these themes will be represented and how they will interact? I particularly like the 2nd one as I think this is a good observation on what happens in the world - "as above, so below", perhaps. What goes on inside our heads gets projected out into visible changes in the world. Where it feeds back in and causes us to react and so on.

Thanks

But in order to do any justice with this, it would have to be fairly lengthy.


That being said though, I want to get some pratice on some simpler things first. Some of them might even have a positive message! (I'm making no promises)

That's really interesting; I'm planning on making cartoons myself in the future.

Can't wait to see the finished animation(s). I love flash. Keep us posted on the progress!!