SETH KOTRABA
Animator and Visual Development Artist
Stone by Stone // Short Film
Additional Credits
Making of Stone by Stone // Concept Art
The first iterations of Ginkgo and Relic appeared when I took a concept art class while at Columbia. My given prompt was "a concept for an animated feature film." Therefore, there's a bit of lore behind each of these pieces.
PRE-PRODUCTION
In the storyboard, Ginkgo enters the cave to sharpen her plant-growing skills, but fails, a common occurrence for her. Because my short film had a strict time limit, I decided to abandon this story beat in favor of her simply seeking shelter from the rain.
Layout and Background Design
Stone by Stone only has two locations - the forest/cliffside and the cave - with most of the film taking place in the latter. My main challenge was keeping the backgrounds consistent from scene to scene while making them dynamic and readable for the viewer.
CHARACTER DESIGN
Relic remained mostly unchanged. Ginkgo, however, went through several changes and simplifications for easier animating. Her outfit was altered to contrast more with the cool color palette of the cave.
Animation Process