I wanted this film to be a culmination of all the work I had previously done in my time at university, acknowledging that each piece of work shaped my skills and understanding of animation. Every major project submission from the last three years is referenced in some way, be it a VHS in the background of the store, a show on Martin’s TV or the MacGuffin of the film.
I also wanted to include references and homages to films and characters that have shaped my love of animation both before and after starting university, the Ray Harryhausen homage being the most prominent one.
The character of Martin is inspired by both of my Grandfathers. I like to create characters based on people from my life as it helps me to have more of a connection with them. I then inject them with a bit of my own personality so I can put myself in their situation to help drive the story.
Having a physical set and characters that I can touch and move by hand is what draws me to stop-motion, it helps me to visualise the movement that I want from my characters in a much clearer way. I also enjoy constructing the sets and making small details to fill them out with.
While stop-motion is definitely my favourite type of animation, other mediums such as 2D and puppetry also fascinate me and I am always interested in working in these styles.
Roeddwn eisiau i’r ffilm hon fod yn anterth yr holl waith yr oeddwn wedi’i wneud yn flaenorol yn fy amser yn y brifysgol, gan gydnabod bod pob darn o waith wedi siapio fy sgiliau a fy nealltwriaeth o animeiddio. Cyfeirir at bob cyflwyniad prosiect mawr o’r tair blynedd ddiwethaf mewn rhyw ffordd, boed yn VHS yn nghefndir y siop, sioe ar deledu Martin neu MacGuffin y ffilm.
Roeddwn eisiau cynnwys cyfeiriadau at a theyrnged i ffilmiau a chymeriadau sydd wedi siapio fy angerdd at animeiddio cyn ac ar ôl y brifysgol, a’r deyrnged Ray Harryhausen oedd yr un amlycaf.
Mae cymeriad Martin wedi’i ysbrydoli gan fy nau Dad-cu. Rwy’n hoffi creu cymeriadau sy’n seiliedig ar bob o fy mywyd gan ei fod yn fy helpu i gael mwy o gysylltiad â nhw. Wedyn, rwy’n rhoi ychydig o fy mhersonoliaeth fy hun ynddynt fel y gallaf roi fy hun yn eu sefyllfa hwy i helpu gyrru’r stori.
Cael set ddiriaethol a chymeriadau y gallaf eu cyffwrdd a symud â llaw yw’r hyn sy’n fy ngalw i stop-symud, mae’n fy helpu i ddychmygu’r symudiad yr wyf ei eisiau gan fy nghymeriadau mewn ffordd gliriach o lawer. Rwy’n mwynhau adeiladu’r setiau a chreu manylion bach i’w llenwi â nhw hefyd.
Er mai stop-symud yw fy hoff fath o animeiddio o lawer, mae cyfryngau eraill megis 2D a phypedwaith yn fy nghyfareddu hefyd ac mae gennyf ddiddordeb trwy’r amser mewn gweithio yn yr arddulliau hyn.