Trolls
This is the last film I worked on at the PDI/DreamWorks studio. I loved working for production designer Kendal Cronkhite and art director Tim Lamb, such a powerful combo. The task of readapting the vintage troll dolls was so monumental, and their vision for the film was so fresh and unusual!
I used this image to tackle how to use light in a high key, basically exposing for the shadows, and using all sorts of tricks to sell a miniature scale.
All images © PDI/DreamWorks Animation
Bibly’s bib shop
I will come back to the Trolls later, but I have to say what really attracted me to work on this project was the Bergen world! It is such a strange mix of vintage 70s decor and a medieval setting, along with some horrible looking color palettes full of orange and avocado green. I was fascinated by it and wanted to find ways to make all of it work.
In this image prince gristle finds a bib for his big date.
Bridget
Bridget doing the dishes. I LOVE her cinderella story, my favorite part of the film. Poor Bridget.
Bergen materials
I helped develop the look of the materials in the Bergen world. Our main inspiration was the paintings of Philip Guston. It not only drove the shape of things, but also their feel and texture. It had to be gross, monstrous, ogre-like. Here I was exploring how we could render different materials within this context.
Poppy’s house
OK back to the Trolls! A painting of Poppy’s house, again trying to convey the miniature scale. We wanted to make everything fuzzy , hairy or made of felt. In some instances (like the small mushrooms here) it was almost like there was a gummy material that was covered in a thin layer of fuzz, so you can still feel the light going through.
I helped design the timelapse sequence where the Trolls build their village in the woods over time. I made this test with a collection of 2d paintings in After Effects.
Storytime
Studying how we could make light feel like it’s traveling through the characters.