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rufftoon — Storyboard Lesson
Published: 2010-08-15 06:04:22 +0000 UTC; Views: 110901; Favourites: 1789; Downloads: 9353
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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]
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Comments: 516
Comics and storyboards, though they do have similarities, are two very different storytelling techniques.
In comics, you use your whole page to mold you sequence. The shape of the panel helps with the timing. The layout of your page can be used in your storytelling.
In storyboards, your panel is always the same shape (except for rare exceptions). You also only work from panel to panel, paying attention to transitions in a different way.
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Ah, Ok.
I want to remember this because I want to go into comics somewhat. I never thought of the panels much. What would be the rare exceptions in storyboarding?
But that makes sense and I'll keep that in mind, thanks!
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Exception in movies: when you have split screens, showing multiple actions happening simultaneously.
Think of the series "24" or the movie Ocean 13 (or was it Ocean 11...I mix those two up).
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Ahh, cool! I didn't know about those.
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the rock just floated past the camera and the earthbenders looked like they were putting so much effort into bending a rock no larger than a man's head XDDD and the firbending movements look like the guy was having a spazzz XD I nearly fell off my chair watching that video XDDD HAHAHA!
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I gotta say I've never bothered to see this movie, but I do enjoy your take on it. I can imagine the failure as if I was watching it in brain vision.
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These are so awesome. I wish all this logic was there from the get go in the film
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Believe me, I wish the same.
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HEEEH MACARINA!!!
I laughed rather loudly... which is bad, because it's 2:45 AM where I live and my whole family was asleep ^^"
but you're absolutely right, and the animated series will forever be better than the movie
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not only is this funny, but it's actually very useful advice about storyboarding/comic storytelling
I still can't believe that they had the earthbenders imprisoned on regular old land. seriously, was anyone writing the script even... awake?
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HAHAHAHAHA The last panel is freakin hilarious!!
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I remember seeing that rock float across the screen and busting out in laughter. also, was haru that little asian boy? that was so weird
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The little asian boy was never given a name.
None of the earthbenders did. They are all no name extras.
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That random meandering rock always gets me. XD
Good job explaining! Even with the breakdowns and explinations from the Live Action movie screen directions, I'm still confused about what exactly happened in that scene (besides dancebending. 
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Oh my gosh, you don't know how much I love all of these Last Airbender related things! They are pure gold! Oh my goodness the EARTHBENDERS. WHAT WAS THAT. *dance dance dance* "Oh look, we all moved that little rock. Maybe."
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They probably moved that rock wall. Thing is, we see the small rock move right after their moves, so we assume that's what they triggered.
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It shouldn't take 6 people to make that shield either.
And if they weren't responsible for the small rock, why were they still performing earthbending moves.
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The macarena addition was pretty hilarious
So, Airbender finally came out in Spain under the name of "Airbender, the last warrior". The fanbase of Avatar here is pretty small (I blame the dubbing and the fact few people has Nick channel) and so few people even have knowledge of the existence of Avatar, and less of Airbender being based on it. For instance, most people thought it was related to Xiaolin Showdown.
So gathering the fact above with the "nice special effects", most of the people I know loves that film, and it's had pretty good reviews here in Spain. That's kind of lame, seeing the bad quality of the film from an avatar fan point of view.
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Thing is, I am not judging it as a fan of the original series.
Rather based on my knowledge of my field of work (storyboards).
I am still learning and getting better at this job, mind you. I still have much to learn. But this movie has so many awkward moments, it is stuffed with examples of "don't do this at work, please!".
If I ever do something like that, I hope my director fires me.
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Ahhh that video is great!!!!
You are really good at seeing the small flaws! You can pinpoint the exact problems.
With me, it's like "This whole scene is awkward. Awkward how, you ask? Uhh... I dunno."
heheh
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I was always confused by that part. It was like "why are like ten earthbenders needed to move one rock?"
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**The Princess hits the floor, laughing!**
This is one of the best sequential art sequences and the funniest I have had the pleasure to read since the days of "Cracked" and "Mad" magazines! I have never seen any of the "Airbender" ... I think that's the series that's being critiqued here. Lack of cable and interest.
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Yup, comparing the cuts from the animated series and the live action film.
A fun exercise.
The animated series made more sense than the live action film I'm afraid.
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Thanks for sharing it! And the "Earthbender Macarana" needs to be done again ... it's just too funny!
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Oh lordy, how this is awesome. I always think like a story board/panel layout-person-thing when I see a movie. ;3;
This makes too much sense to me on a whole.
I love your brain.
My brain wants to have brain-children with your brain.
But, alas, they would be star-crossed lovers.
So...I'll just say "LOL" like other comments and be a total d!ck by saying something not really saying anything.
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My brain is too old to have brain babies anymore.
Just brain farts.
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pffft!
Lies!
BRUTAL AND BLATANT LIES !
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how many times have you watched this movie now to keep finding these things?
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Only saw it once. I don't even own a pirate copy. I don't want to.
I must have been badly mentally scarred. Don't need to make it worse.
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YES. Just yes. Fabulous, thank you. :]
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What I like about your critiques of the movie, is that they are not only informative, but funny and enjoyable. It helps me to understand why some of the parts didn't seem to flow right with me. Thanks for drawing these.
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Aside from the stamping which I had to admit was extremely funny... it left me more than confused about the mechanics of bending. I was a Kinesiology Major a while back and I learned a lot about bio-mechanics and the transfer of energy through both movement and other forces... The stamping while intimidating, does little to the in terms of energy transfer. The Airbender, Firebender and Waterbender mechanics work well... even if a bit long winded to be actual fighting forms at times which made me think; (still hurting from that thinking session by the way) "Why is this so?"
So looking at what I know about kinetic and potential energy, I would think it was a method of creating kinetic energy out of potential energy; thus making it easier to lift the stones from the ground and thus create a rock flying out of no where.
All in all... way too complicated to be effective in either battle or practical working. On the bright side... it's good for making easily amused people like myself laugh. XD
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Interesting thought about energy transfer.
Does that mean they need to "charge up" before trigerring any activity?
In an action film, that's rather detrimental to the timing.
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That's what I thought as well... impractical and useless as fighting forms go. And as you say, it really makes no sense for an action film and kills any sort of timing. I've actually consulted a few Kung Fu masters near me and they all gave a good laugh.
The moves for Water, Fire and Air were good for building up energy of motion and momentum but would be ineffective in combat. It actually presented a lot of problems. Granted, they used a lot of moves themselves but this was to quickly build energy of motion and transfer it to a target either invisible or physical.
Either way I look at it, it's a waste of movement and a waste of screen time. I tend to look two ways, Aesthetically and Mechanically; how can these make sense while sticking with the base forms? It's difficult but not impossible. Quick, fast and furious movements are needed for Fire. Strong, powerful movements directed down and forward for Earth. Flowing, precise movements for Water. Lastly; swift and cunning movements for Air.
Gosh I'm sounding like a preacher now... Must be the Dew.
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I liked the Macarena part
But seriously, that scene in the movie didn't make sense...I was almost fell out of my chair laughing when I saw the small rock move with a number of Earthbenders moving
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That's the problem: as viewers, we connect their movement with the small rock, not with the rock wall.
That's because the small rock seems to happen BECAUSE of their move.
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Thank you. I was always so weirded out by their spastic flailing to do... nothing. What?
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That's the problem: as viewers, we connect their movement with the small rock, not with the rock wall.
That's because the small rock seems to happen BECAUSE of their move.
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I thought it was that guy that it pans in on moved the rock, actually. So when I saw the movie, I saw the guy being attacked creating the wall and being unable to uphold it (probably due to him only being 1 person and stupid?) and then six men... spastically flailing and accomplishing nothing. And then OH GOD SLOWLY MOVING ROCK RUN FOR YOUR LIVES
All those Earthbenders were too dumb to live anyway.
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See, there are many ways to interpret that scene. Sad that the storytelling of it is so confusing.
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Unfortunately. That was mine, at least. It kind of adds an inadvertent hilarity to the six guys. "WE JUST FELT LIKE DANCING!"
I bet if anything, The Last Airbender will be popular for Rifftrax purposes. A bit sad, but hey, take what you can get?
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*laughing so hard she's gasping for breath at the macarena*
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I love your breakdowns of these. They're entertaining and I'm learning a lot about what NOT to do in my own boards.
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Learning about screen directions, crossing the axis, are basics I still struggle with from time to time.
Always gotta keep a watch for it.
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I really enjoy these. You make such simple, straightforward points. This movie could have been so much better so easily.
I'd also like to point out the major logic error Shamallama made by having the earthbenders imprisoned somewhere completely surrounded by rocks.
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That is just so obvious, I didn't even want to mention it.
It's just...a pure facepalm moment.
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That always frustrates me when I think about it. Not only does it make the earthbenders look like idiots for not making use of their abundance of ammunition, but the firebenders look like idiots too for imprisoning them where they are surrounded by an abundance of ammunition. Facepalm indeed
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