Obsession

 

For his 3rd-year film, Georges decided to explore the theme of retro gaming through the perspective of a little boy desperately trying to get his console back, which is under the watchful eyes of his parents. This situation was familiar to him and seemed like the perfect fit for a semi-cartoon, semi-realistic visual style. Georges aimed to create a world far too big for this tiny main character, filled with hiding spots and obstacles that may seem trivial to adults but appear insurmountable to a child. He spent a lot of time on the storyboard, searching for the best layout to create a true playground for animation. Lastly, he added dramatic lighting to enhance the contrast between the comedic situation and the seriousness as perceived by the little boy.

As for the animation, the MoPA student chose the step technique, with sharper, more jerky scene transitions. This allowed him to give the character an explosive nature and exaggerated reactions, which work well for the comedic tone of the film. The little boy, whom Georges calls Gustave, is a ball of frustration and determination. But, unfortunately for him, every attempt is doomed to fail, and he ultimately pays the price for his misplaced desire.

For the future 3D animator, the biggest challenge was the storyboard: sorting through ideas, deciding what to keep or cut, organizing transitions between shots, and preparing for animation. He spent over a month on the storyboard, restarting, redoing, removing, adding, and adjusting... Once the storyboard was done, Georges felt reassured, knowing exactly where he was headed. He also thanks the teachers who supported him during this crucial stage.

This film confirmed his decision to specialize in animation for his 4th year at MoPA, as the humor of the film heavily relied on this aspect, which he found to be the most enjoyable part of the project.

 

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