Fiction GIF Process of making (and reactions)

Following my last blog, Clay Props (https://kaylalui.blogspot.com/2019/01/clay-props.html), I have separated the individual components on Photoshop. I tried to place the boobs on Ogechi's naple, and realized that it would be clearer if the boobs are larger.

Animation WIP- as you can see, some movements are quite not right and the ear has not been fully developed.

I have thought of adding an eye, but it seemed to obvious to make the hair a living creature. Maybe I could also have opted for a tinier animal eye like that of a leech's. I would like the hair to remain mystical as a hybrid of a living object to infer the magic realism in the writing, and consequently the role hair plays in the story.

Penultimate final version. People have expressed their confusion as to what these lumps are, so I would improve by adding contrast (e.g. shadows beneath and behind the boobs), to refine the details and as well lessen the awkward shadow for the suckled boob (now that is a weird term).

I have experimented with how it could be displayed. I looked into this mockup facebook ad website which proved to be fun and quite realistic-if in case the article was shared on social media.

I struggled a bit with making a mockup website. I tried to download the Newyorker page where the story was first published, and attempted to modify the page by replacing my image in Adobe Dreamweaver, but for two hours my efforts are futile. Ultimately, under the suggestion of a helpful library member of staff, I have decided to create a Newyorker rip-off by screencapping elements and placing them on a new webpage.

The outcome turned out to be unexpectedly realistic (As the fonts were easy to match) the only thing which is prominently different is the placing of some paragraph enlarged initials as they are not wrapped around by text.

A mobile view is generated too- good job Wix.

The final GIF.

Interesting things people thought the lumps are:

lumps

boobs/ breasts/ nipples (obviously)

pears (two people thought so)

lemons (i thought at least they look like lemons more than pears)

pimples

cis

buns that symbolize prosperity.

Reactions I have gotten:

fucking disturbing

off-putting

unsettling

weird

refreshing

And my answer:

this time I choose to focus on one scene: the hair baby sucking/ feeding off hair from Ogechi's naple. It might not be just one scene because the hair baby has been constantly eating hair off Ogechi, and that to me left an impression because it seemed like the hair baby is a sinister leech which drains her energy, prosperity and youthfulness (abundant hair represents fertility in some cultures); as to a less shiny perspective of motherhood which hints an act of sacrifice and a tiring, burdening task.

Focusing on a detail has not always been what I am used to doing. I tend to favour portraying scenes with more (illustrative) detail, such as environments or character interactions. I have struggled loads before the production of the GIF, whether or not to choose this concept or another one which involves Ogechi squeezing joy out of her hair to mama. I thought the latter was more contextual in meaning and more representative; but in the end I would like to try focussing on portraying a simple small movement.

In first glance the viewer might not be fully aware of what is happening, until gradually from the mesmerizing movements of lumps and hair moving like corals and seaweed in the sea, they realize the hair has some sort of animated life-- I want viewers to be curious of what is happening, until the story answers their question. 

The lumps are meant to resemble boobs and hair pores-- the breasts relate to the theme of motherhood and symbolizes Ogechi's immature motherhood.

Materiality is important in the story as what the girls/ babies are made out of determines their social status and who they are. I chose to use real clay and hair to anime Ogechi, as she in the story is also made of clay. The usage of such materials make creates an unfamiliar yet human-resembling figure. The lumps on her naple/ back provoke a sense of body-horror that is unsettling but fun to watch.