First, I made a list of possible genres that work well in animation. These included comedy, drama, slice of life, fantasy, sci-fi, and experimental. I noticed that many student films fall into the slice-of-life or fantasy categories because they allow a lot of creativity and emotion.
I was drawn to slice of life because of how relatable and simple the stories can be, while still being powerful. They usually focus on a small moment in someone’s day, something personal. I liked this idea because it fits well with a short runtime and doesn’t require too many characters.
For visual style, I started collecting references. I looked at animations that use flat 2D illustration, some that were more painterly, and even some with minimalistic line work. Since I’m using Clip Studio Paint, I want a style that works well with digital drawing tools.
I also thought about colour palettes. Some animations use bright colours to create a fun and cheerful mood. Others use soft, muted tones to make the story feel more emotional or serious. I’ve always liked hand-drawn looks with pastel shades, so I’m considering going with that.
To make sure my style fits the genre, I compared a few examples. For instance, Gobelins animations often use abstract or surreal visuals for more dramatic or experimental stories. In contrast, Studio Ghibli-style animations are perfect for slice-of-life or fantasy with emotional storytelling.
I also took my own drawing skills into account. While I enjoy detailed character design, I know that animating a full story with lots of details can take a long time. So, I’m planning to create a simple but expressive style, one that is achievable but still has personality.
Learning Tip and How this will help my final project
At the end of this research, I decided I want to create a slice-of-life animation with a soft, hand-drawn look. I want it to feel calming, a bit nostalgic, and focus on a small emotional moment between a character and their environment.
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