NetSafe's Communication Manager, Rachel Harrison talks to the Creative Director of Inkspot Digital Ltd. Mark Saunders (pictured), about the cybersafety animation Hector’s World™. In this article Mark gives us a behind-the-scenes snapshot of how Hector’s World™ animation is made, his experience as an animator, and shows us what is behind the creation of the wonderful characters that make up the cast of Hector’s World™.
Q: Can you tell me about how you became an animator?
A: In 1990 I had the opportunity to serve as an apprentice in an Auckland based animation studio that was producing television animation for Warner Bros and Disney. I had no idea what I was in for and was completely unprepared for the gargantuan can of worms I was about to open … Not only did I have to produce a good solid cartoon image - I had to produce THOUSANDS of good solid cartoon images that worked together seamlessly to create something that would sit comfortable on tv sets around the world. Structure, composition, line of action, flow proportion, keeping on model, layout, acting, timing, dialogue, lip sync, model sheets, exposure sheets, panning, trucking, camera angles, field guides, registration, retakes…………..AHHHHH! I was flipping drawings in my dreams! I stuck with it though, and worked my way up through the studio. I eventually left there to pursue my own studio and as a result, ended up working in many different situations with a variety of talented artists and clients.
Q: Can you tell me how the characters of Hector’s World™ were created?
A: It was the concept of treating the ocean as a metaphor for the internet that created the solid platform on which the characters could evolve. Then, we had to come to terms with what we needed each character to achieve. It was only when we understood this that the pieces started to fall into place.
When you’re designing characters, you may start off with a simple idea, or a drawing, or a voice, or a personality trait or any number of things. The real craft comes into it when you have to mix all the elements together in a way that gives birth to a living, breathing, believable character the audience is capable of forming an emotional bond with. You achieve that and you’ve got an invaluable conduit for delivering effective education.
Take Hector for example, we knew that Hector needed to be the primary source of education so we wanted to make him appealing and believable – someone the audience would relate to and trust. In all his dealings, Hector needed to display character traits inherent in a positive role model. At the same time, Hector couldn’t be a one dimensional ‘perfect’ character. I felt it was important for the audience to learn as Hector learned, perhaps even run a step ahead of him. His strength of character and problem solving abilities were going to be key to helping the audience interpret the cybersafety education and apply that education in a practical way. From casting his voice to choosing his colours, every element of Hector’s design was carefully measured against the checklist of personality traits and desired outcomes. All the characters go through a similar process.
Q: Can you tell me about how the animation is actually made for Hector’s World™?
A: Hector’s World™ is compiled using a combination of traditional hand-drawn 2D animation and production techniques based on those pioneered by Hanna-Barbera in the 1960s. If you consider that for every second a character appears on screen, an average of around 12 full-colour animation drawings need to be produced, you’ll begin to appreciate just how expensive and time consuming animation can be. Today we have the advantage of digital colouring and compiling.
Inkspot Digital took a leaf out of Hanna-Barbera’s book and developed a library system of animation components that could be reused to create new animation sequences. However, advances in technology can only take you so far. Traditional crafts still dominate the animation process. Everything from writing and voice acting, to storyboarding and soundtrack composition all still require the talents of dedicated artists and administrators committed to producing a quality product.
Q: What is it like being the ‘Sesame Street of the digital age’, combining animation and cybersafety education?
A: We realised that getting the right balance between the education elements and the entertainment factor of the show was imperative. We knew what we had to hit in terms of the education points. We knew that they had to be measurable and effective and we understood that the entertainment aspect was primarily the delivery mechanism that would tie it all together. Keeping all these elements in balance was one of the most difficult aspects of the production – but we got there, I think.
Q: Can you tell me what you find exciting about the project?
A: What really excites me about Hector’s World™ is the opportunity to play a key creative role in the development of an effective character-based education programme that does more than simply impart knowledge. We’re creating role models for our newest cybercitizens and showing them how to navigate the vast realm of the internet safely and responsibly.
The people involved in this project are also pretty amazing. I’ve had the great privilege of working with some incredible, passionate people who are committed to making a real difference in this world. You can’t help but be inspired by that.
This article is an excerpt from an interview with Mark Saunders, Creative Director of Inkspot Digital Ltd. in December 2007.
