Erin Gebbia Art Archive: April 2014

ADN319 Intro to Animation - Character Building

Story:
-Once upon a time, there were two coyote brothers who lived a life of debauchery, thievery, and banditry. They were the most dangerous, most wanted duo of outlaws in the Old West. The older brother was known as Jack “Black Jack” Hardin; he earned this moniker cheating his way to the top of card games across the West and going on notorious drunken shooting sprees if he lost. The younger brother was known as Cassidy “Crafty Cassidy” Hardin; rather than utilizing brute force like Jack, Crafty Cassidy was much better at being sneaky, sly, and persuasive in order to get him and his brother out of trouble, though he was still given to drinking and becoming reckless.

-Every day, they roamed the plains, robbed stage coaches, hitch hiked on trains, stole, killed recklessly, got in fights and frequented saloons for drinking, gambling, and other unsavory business.

-One day, Black Jack decided to rob a train carrying a significant amount of wealthy upper class travelers. While holding some victims at gunpoint, Crafty Cassidy encountered an elegant young lady jackrabbit. Entranced by her beauty, he immediately decided to hold her hostage for ransom.

-Because of that, they were forced to carry around Jane the jackrabbit, who complained endlessly, got in the way, and caused them problems in general during their heists and daily life. Being the smooth talker that he was, Cassidy began to sweet talk Jane, solely to use her. Slowly, however, they got closer. She started talking to him, and although she was willing to join his life of crime, she tried to convince him to give up his outlaw ways. Crafty Cassidy began to wonder if he should continue working with his brother. However, he had been so loyal to his brother for so long that he suffered a lot of internal conflict. Tension rises between the brothers.

-Because of that, Black Jack began to feel bitter, and the brothers got into a fight during a high tension moment when they had been trying to work together on a robbery. Assorted adventures and fight scenes ensue. It is revealed that Jane has been secretly plotting to turn in the brothers for their bounty. The trio end up in a three-way standoff with guns pointed at each other, but instead find themselves surrounded by the official police forces Jane had sent. All three are jailed, because Jane is viewed as their accomplice from the last couple weeks.

-Finally, Crafty Cassidy is able to sweet talk the trio out of jail, and along with Black Jack’s brute force gunmanship, and Jane’s surprise swiftness with a knife, they are able to escape. As time passes, Cassidy is able to talk and bribe his way into power, and uses that power to become a corrupt mayor, allowing his brother to continue crime, staying in the outlaw scene himself, and pleasing Jane all at once.

Bio:
Name: Cassidy “Crafty Cassidy” Hardin

Birthplace: In an Old West mining town

Age at the time of the beginning of the story: 19

What his parents do for a living: Mother – part time prostitute, part time housewife; Father – attempted gold miner, full time gambler and drinker

Relationship with parents: Mother – tried to care for them, but was often absent; Father – abusive drunk, now dead (fell drunk down a mine shaft)

Relationship with siblings: Has always idolized his older brother Jack (22), eager to please him but is often used, very rarely has feelings of bitterness from being second in command, works well with his brother, is good at appeasing Jack’s shorter temper

Early life and school years: Spent younger years running around getting into trouble with Jack, experienced a lot of violence and debauchery among the miners/hooligans/outlaws in town, did not attend school at all, learned to be both thick-skinned and persuasive to survive rough atmosphere

Characteristics: Mischievous, extrovert, sneaky, sly, persuasive, good talker, prone to recklessness when drinking, talkative, selfish but loyal to his brother, liar, cheater

Occupation and evolution of professional life: Tried to work in a local saloon but spent all his

time there drinking and gambling, lead to him teaming up with Jack to become outlaws at age 19, initially to help support mother, quickly devolved into just supporting themselves and their bad habits

Relationship with boss and co-workers: Idolizes Jack, eager to please him, often saves them

from bad situations with his smooth talking, sometimes bitter that Jack gets most of the credit in their thieving duo

Dreams and goals: Live comfortably, be rich, gamble and drink, take care of his mother, survive

Travel experiences: Wandering around the plains and desert either on foot or in train cars

without paying, frequenting various towns and saloons

Political and religious views: Thinks the law is annoying, and that marshals are

lazy/useless/overpaid; “If there is a god, he ain’t lookin’ out fer me.”

Sexual attitudes and ideas: Loose, low standards, flirty, sloppy, devalues women (meeting Jane changes this somewhat, she pleasantly surprises him because she’s not a dumb low life prostitute)

Hobbies, interests, and desires: Shooting, hunting, drinking, gambling, sex, stealing,

singing/howling, wood whittling, eating well, square-dancing (poorly)

Idiosyncrasies: Walks at a quick anxious pace, laughs loud and easily especially at dirty jokes,

impatient, has lots of fleas and itches/twitches his ear a lot

Physical description: Coyote, tall, underfed, lanky, scruffy, beat up, off-balance, mismatched

clothes that are too big for him

General description of living situation: Dilapidated house, poor, minimal comforts, migrant,

wandering, unstable, in the dirt on the ground under the stars with a campfire, different place every night

Personal motivations: Personal comfort, riches, happiness, family obligations/loyalty, booze

Dominant, core trait: Sly and persuasive

Fatal flaw: Selfish and reckless drunk

Life changing or defining events: Witnessing father’s drunken rage, father’s death, deciding to team up with Jack, their various outlaw adventures, meeting Jane on the train

Character Concepts:

Model Sheet:

Rough Animation:

*Please watch in 720p HD*

Final Walk Cycle:

Final animation for my character "Crafty Cassidy" Hardin's sneaky walk. The walk is supposed to portray an aspect of the character's personality. 24 frames at 12 fps. Drawn and animated in Photoshop.

*Please watch in 1440p HD*