Film Review: Iran - Persepolis (2007)

Persepolis is a French-Iranian animated film directed and animated by Marjane Satrapi based on her own autobiographical novel of the same name. The film was nominated for Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and was a co-winner for 2007 Cannes Film Festival. The film has a strong line art style which also features basic colours in contrast to grays and blacks.

Persepolis is a film that follows the early life of a young girl as she becomes of age just after the Iranian Revolution. We watch how she engages with her family members and friends as she slowly becomes observant of the society around her. Despite the film being based upon a rough era of Iran, the film is very diluted in terms of realistic interpretation of that period, in relation to revolution documentaries.

Overall, the film is pleasant to watch yet the story lacks any excitement or drive. It fits its genre and purpose well enough, however I would not recommend this film to anyone who seeks to learn about this particular part of history, or looking for an artistic style.

Film Review: Israel - Waltz with Bashir (2008)

Waltz with Bashir is an Israeli animated war documentary of the Lebanon War in 1982. The film was written and directed by Ari Folman and was officially released in 2008. Waltz with Bashir was the first Israeli feature film to have been produced in over 40 years, however the film is currently banned in Lebanon. It has won many awards including a BAFTA and Golden Globe for 'best foreign language film'.

The film features a highly stylized 3D effect that reflects on the memories of Ari Folman's experience of the Lebanon War. His amnesia has left him confused about these memories and seeks his friends to find out the truth and get his memory back. It has a strange yet mesmerizing approach to not only the artistic style but also from Folman's perception of each scene with high imagination.

Waltz with Bashir is a film for anyone who is seeking to find out more about the Lebanon War from a soldiers point of view, but to anyone else who seeks to find an art style for their own particular artwork. Unfortunately the film only features a handful of English sentences that may spoil the immersion for some audiences.

Adaptation (B): Briar-Rose Face Tweaking

Briar-Rose Face Tweaking

After my feedback from Alan, I realized that I needed to look more at Natalie's facial features and not create something generic. As her hair is something I will re-design eventually I have kept it the same for now.

Adaptation (B): Briar-Rose Hair & Facial Detail Sketches

Briar-Rose Head Designs

Feedback Welcome!

After creating her face, I have designed some rough hairstyles and facial details.

I prefer numbers (2) and (5) for the hair and (3), (5) and (7) for the facial details.

Adaptation (B): Briar-Rose Face Development

Briar-Rose Face Development

After looking at the celebrities I think would work best with my Briar-Rose, Natalie Dormer stood out the most. Her pointed jaw, the style of her eyebrows, size of her mouth and spacing of her eyes seems to give her this very 'strong woman' effect. So I went ahead and created a face/head from these influences.

Adaptation (B): Actors & Actresses

Actors & Actresses

After my tutorial with Alan, I looked at actresses that have traits that I could use for influences when designing my character 'Briar-Rose'. The actresses I initially thought of were Natalie Dormer, Mila Kunis, Lauren Cohan and Michelle Rodriguez. (Master Thief: Joe Dempsie, Ashton Kutcher, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Liam Hemsworth - Silver Hands: Anne Hathaway, Shailene Woodley, Emma Stone and Amanda Seyfried).

 Briar-Rose

Master Thief

Girl With Silver Hands

Adaptation (B): 'The Bear' - Adding Details

Adding Facial Details

Feedback Welcome!

After deciding which designs worked best for my 'Bear' character, I have taken him another step forward and applied details to his face, altering them slightly each time. I prefer numbers 2, 4 & 6.