Abstract
Telling a narrative that embraces the facility of group.A layer of actuality juxtaposed with surreal protagonistsFinding magnificence within the surprising.
The Problem of Mixing Totally different Worlds
The foundational concept of Frank and Drake was with the ability to characterize how our distinctive numerous identities can discover a frequent floor of understanding by totally different ranges of communication and empathy. That precept is legitimate for the characters themselves and their relationship with out bodily contact, however it goes past that. Virtually unconsciously, it affected all of the layers of the event, with a peculiar ambiance because of the usage of blended arts.
Artwork and Animation: a Collage of Types in Concord
The world of Oriole Metropolis is offered largely through illustrated backgrounds that current an correct – but stylized- structure the place nothing is distorted or out of proportion. Our lead artist Romina Correa outlined along with her fashion this layer of “actuality” in juxtaposition with the rotoscoped protagonists, that stay within the spectrum of surrealism. However different situations of the sport present totally different strategies, reminiscent of tough pencils in black and white (flashbacks), ball pen drawings (journal sketches), stencil and graffiti (partitions of the streets), and even imitations of oil portray (murals in sure places). Working with not solely totally different however versatile artists allowed us to create this visible melting pot inside the boundaries of the lore.
This multi-disciplinary artistic method additionally affected the visuals in movement. The rotoscoped animations stand out for apparent causes (and are essentially the most time consuming, with over 8,000 frames drawn!), however there are many different frame-by-frame animations with out footage as a reference that assist the narrative, and even 3D fashions, very handy in advanced rotations or interactions.
Music: the Rhythm of Gentle and Darkish
We knew Kai Engel nicely from his work within the soundtrack of our earlier recreation keep. The aim in Frank and Drake was not solely to offer each day and night time a singular setting, but in addition challenge the best way each characters expertise their actuality. By opposing the hip hop rhythms of Frank with the jazz vibes from Drake, you get a phenomenal distinction that helps you navigate between characters and to totally really feel the emotional affect of each tales.
Narrative: Two Voices, One Large Thriller
Crafting a narrative with twin protagonists was a brand new problem for our author and Narrative Designer, Ana Monteiro. Some guidelines wanted to be adopted to make it work: outline distinctive voices with respective personalities and views, so that they couldn’t react to battle in equal methods. They wanted to have character arcs revealing a change of beliefs and behaviors as proof of private development, too. And all these inside conflicts needed to conflict towards an exterior conspiracy, one thing that will make their destinies merge in some unspecified time in the future.
Finally, Frank and Drake tells a narrative that embraces the facility of group: how a wierd (and sometimes weird) place like Oriole Metropolis can turn out to be the house for a lot of people, normally tagged because the outcast of society, and the place range of realities coexist respectfully. The place magnificence might be discovered within the surprising, and variations are accepted in a supportive, cooperative method. We tried to maintain that precise essence with the mixture of a number of artwork varieties all through the sport. The aim was to not try for perfection individually, however to discover a cohesive nature within the sum of this sincere, fragmented identification.
We hope you get pleasure from discovering the story of Frank and Drake.