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rufftoon — Storyboard Lesson
Published: 2010-08-15 06:04:22 +0000 UTC; Views: 110894; Favourites: 1789; Downloads: 9352
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!!NOTE: DOWNLOAD FOR FULL VIEW!!Apologies in advance.
More writing than drawing in this one. Just thought it would be interesting to compare the two scenes, the original animated series one with the movie version.
Though there were no obvious problems with the screen directions per say, it was the whole action- reaction and timing that was awkward in the movie.
Notice that for the animated series, we don't even see one earthbender doing one attack, and yet it is clear and makes sense.
Screen direction in storyboards, cutting and editing is very important. It is the link between the chains of events. It connects with the 180 degree rule :
[link]
Please note that this rule can be broken in service to the story, for emotional effect, etc.
As for the "Macarena" in panel 6, I blame this video:
[link]
Related content
Comments: 516
It's not so much ranting as taking the opportunity to talk about storyboards and storytelling. I take the time to give tips about what to look out for, what works, etc.
It's great to be able to compare two similar scenes for that: the original and the remake.
Not everything about the movie is negative. Notice that I noted what worked in the cuts.
If anyone reading these ever goes into comics, animation or film, hopefully they will have found a note or two that will help them.
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I have worked for many years now in the world of television and film. Though my knowledge is far from perfect and there are plenty of other artists with even more talent and experience, I look at the Last Airbender movie through the lens of that experience.
At this moment, I make comparisons between the live action and the animated version. I have seen them and am familiar with both.
I want to understand why these choices in editing were made.
I can't do it with DragonBall Z because I haven't seen the film (and seen too little of the animated series).
The only one I could possibly do something with is Death Note, having read the manga, seen the animated version and the live action adaptation. Thing is, there is not enough material in there for me to pick. It was an adaptation that worked overall, even if the ending was changed from the source.
I also can't do comparisons between a book and a movie, since both are such different mediums and open to much wider interpretation.
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No one is forcing you to look at these. These are funny and they show how the story-boarders of the Avatar tv show are x 10s better than the ones on the movie.
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wow RUDE, this is valuable information that people who actually want to learn something from this movie (future movie makers) don't mind seeing, She IS an amazing artist and using it to teach people something is not wasting it.
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In defense of these "lessons" that Rufftoon has been posting lately, I've found them both hilarious and educational, so I do think they have a greater purpose beyond "trashing The Last Airbender."
*insert obligatory "it's her account and she has the right to upload whatever she wishes to it" comment here*
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I think the biggest problem is that the director doesn't understand the basic concept that the movement must correlate with the motion of the element being bended. If the element is stationary when it is being bended then the benders should hold the pose they are in. One must think of the element as an extension of the bender's body otherwise it just looks like interpretative dance.
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Your description is very true. You would think M.Night or someone else on his team would have made it work that way. I'm still scratching my head over it.
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God, that rock. I will never get over that thing.
It was the best and worst part of the movie.
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The Macarena part killed me.
This is really useful. Thank you.
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HEEEEEY, MACARANA. HAIIIIIII!!!
That video is awesome. XD
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These are awesome! Makes me think of Scott McCloud books. :]
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Scott McCloud is way better in his books. I just tend to ramble on.
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Oh my! Will that scene never cease to make me crack up!.. poor guy who actually moved the rock
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HAHA! I had to laugh out loud (which is weird since I'm at my school/job and no one is around) "heeeh macarena!" oh man XD. I was wondering the exact same thing, it makes these earthbenders look like they really suck. Whats it gonna take when they have to move TWO small rocks!?
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I guess I can thank the movie for ONE thing - because of it, we got some awesome 'here's how you do camera direction and story telling' tutorials.
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AY AY! I second that claim!
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Oh.... my.... dear... gods...
I don't think I will EVER stop laughing at the earthbenders dancing in that video clip. SO glad I never saw the movie. XD
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Ahhh, so it was just the angle of the camera that caused confusion. I think that makes sense than having all those earthbenders move that lone rock; but still, it's something fun to laugh at
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The camera sort of worked- but these guys should have stopped moving, letting all the screen time for that one lone guy to move that one rock.
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Wow, the movie must be pretty bad for you to bombard it the last few times. Maybe you should direct the next animated movie or something.
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Nah, there are way better directors out there. I prefer to sit in the sidelines, trying to figure out why Last Airbender had those awkward moments.
Plus, remember that some people do enjoy the movie. It all depends on taste.
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Just put Jet Li in the next one...people will come.
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gawd, i had horrible second-hand embarrassment for that scene.
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Oh my god, the actual Haru!
Not that 10 year old boy (girl?) who played him in the movie. >_>;
All of these that you post are hilarious. xD
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Send these to Shamalan!!!! Or at least his producers so they can try to get a better director!
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Nah, I wouldn't bother. I'm sure they have much better, more higher placed people that are already talking to them.
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Nah! Come on, you're a fan with an opinion, a better and more organized opinion than most, but still. It would get the point across that fans aren't simply mad at M. Night, but have serious reason to be. just a thought.
P.S. Would you be mad if "a friend of mine" were to send in these pics? With credit to you of course!
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I feel as though this movie may infuriate me more than any movie should be allowed to.
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well expressed
oh how this scene made me cringe
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I get the screen stuff now that you explain it, but that macarena video is freakin' hilarious! ^_^
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I really enjoy your storyboarding lessons, it's very educational!
they really made the bending seem weak in the movie. the timing with the people's movements and their element's actions was terribly slow.
oh, and i love how 'sneak-attack' sokka just walks past an enemy into his line of sight. pfft!
but at least the Macarena dance vid was funny.
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I'm quite scared to watch the movie...I want to hold the magic of the anime close to my heart!
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One won't destroy the other, believe me. The animated series still stands strong.
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Fair enough...look like I'm renting it!
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Thanks for this storyboard lessons, they are very interesting.
And the video made me laugh so bad XD
It's really sad that now the avatar series will be also remembered for the terrible movie they made, and not just for the amazing animation it is...
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so that's what happened! i was under the impression that the group of earthbenders were responsible for the rock wall and the floating pebble across the screen. then that other earthbender jumps in and uses said floating rock to attack.
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Maybe you're right and I'm off a little. There are different ways to analyse this scene...which we shouldn't have to if it was clear.
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I watched the macarena video... and despite the hilarity of it, I found myself flabergasted by the rock floating by.
Millions of dollars of computer graphics technology available today, and that's the best they could come up with?
I swear I could see the fishing wire.
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That movie was so sad. It broke my little fangirl heart...
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I'm... I'm just... *saw the clip* I am so glad I'm boycotting that...that... thing...
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I really love your professional breakdown of these scenes from the avatar movie. Very informative and helpful!
Are there any story board how-to books you would recommend? I've already got that "Save the Cat" screenwriting book on my list :3
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I can't think of any particular book about storyboarding...oh wait, this one covers pretty much all the basics:
[link]
I also like this one in terms of composition (mostly deals with animation):
[link]
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Oh, wait! I saw that someone else asked you this in an earlier comment. Sorry
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Well, it could have been worse. Instead of the Macarena, imagine if they had been pebble-dancing to Jai Ho. Zuko's honor would have been irredeemable at that point.
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Zuko was a gazillion miles away from that shot. His honour was safe.
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