Script thumbs

So once we have our approved script I like to do what are called "Script Thumbs". These are thumbnail ideas/concepts and compositional suggestions, beating out the entire script so that the team understands what I'm looking for more clearly.
Sometimes I will include photo reference for a prop in order to help out our design department.
For this particular show I also plan on adopting a strategy usually employed on feature films. This would be transferring my thumbs into an animatic for the episode where we only have the major beats boarded. Working with the editor I'll be able to tell where we may need additional shots, where we need to cut in or need additional visual information. The idea here is to avoid boarding unnecessary scenes or cutting for the sake of cutting. Each shot should have a clear purpose in telling the story...clearly.
Below are a few samples of my 'thumbs' approach.

Art Direction Guide

My second order of business was to create an Art Direction Guide. This was created so that my Art Director, the Remarkable Mr. Don Gauthier, would have as much information and direction as possible in order to help further create and maintain the 'world' of Mr. King.

Writer's Style Guide

My very first order of business, on day one of production, was to create a Writer's Style Guide.

The purpose, to insure all writers coming on board will have a clear idea regarding the style and format. I'm hopeful that the guide will help each episode feel 'Mr. King' like, and Remarkable.

The Teaser

Below you'll see the evolution of The Remarkable Mr. King Teaser. My concept was to do a sort of 'Storybook' Teaser trailer which book companies will occasionally do in support of a new picture book launch.
The teaser is one long scene with the camera meandering through the forest, with picture book text informing us along the way.

First thumbs..

Rough Layout

Rough colour

Final Teaser

Welcome to the Kaleidoscope Woods

Welcome to the production blog for The Remarkable Mr. King.

A little over a year ago the book Mr. King Likes New Things, by author/illustrator Genevieve Cote, came into my life. I had been working in the development department at Nelvana at the time and was instantly attracted to the perceived aesthetic simplicity of the illustrations.

Reading through the book only further fulled my interest and within 24 hours I had a pitch package ready to present. Thankfully head of development, Athena Georgaklis also saw the potential for the series and gave the go ahead for a Development Promo.

My intention for the promo was to maintain the look, feel, and spirit of the three book series, staying as close as possible to the original illustrations. By utilizing Toon Boom's Harmony software, and a couple of great artists, we were able to do just that.

Though things have changed slightly over the course of development I, along with Andrew Sabiston,our Head Writer, have been able to maintain the look and feel as we happily proceed into production.