panmacmillan tommy
BRIEF & JUSTIFICATION
panmacmillan Create new illustrations for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’s 150th anniversary year. “Macmillan Children’s Books, a division of Pan Macmillan, is one of the UK’s leading children’s publishers, creating great stories for all ages for over 150 years. It’s the original home of classics such as Alice in Wonderland, The Jungle Book and The Water Babies. 2015 is the 150th anniversary of the publication of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – one of the most important books in our long history – and as part of our celebrations we will publish the authentic and most complete range of Alice titles in print, digital and audio, for all readers to enjoy and love. Create a new cover and up to two wondrous interior page illustrations for one of our most precious pieces of heritage: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Your illustrations should enchant a whole new readership and, although you must include a front cover, you are free to choose a couple of scenes from the book. These might be new interpretations of scenes that have been drawn before or entirely new ones – it’s up to you. We are entirely open to styles of illustration too.
Our primary audience is parents of girls aged 5-9. Our secondary audience is parents of boys aged 5-9 and gift givers, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles etc. The cover design must include the Macmillan Alice 150 logo. New cover design for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland which must be 270mm (H) x 215mm (W), and supplied as a PDF. The Macmillan Alice 150 logo can act like a sticker on the cover so please supply one illustration with it included in the artwork and one without. 1-2 interior page illustrations from scenes within the book which must sit within a 270mm (H) and 215mm (W) single page, and be supplied as a PDF. Please also include the page numbWer from the Macmillan Classics edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland along with your illustrated scenes.”
ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
wonderland
“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (commonly shortened to Alice in Wonderland) is an 1865 novel written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll.[1] It tells of a girl named Alice falling through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures. The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children.[2] It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre.[2][3] Its narrative course and structure, characters and imagery have been enormously influential[3] in both popular culture and literature, especially in the fantasy genre.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice’s_Adventures_in_Wonderland
ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
storyline
Alice is a timeless heroine; quick witted, determined and resourceful, In her extraordinary adventures she begins by following a white rabbit down a rabbit hole, falling endlessly surrounded by clocks and wardrobes, into wonderland. She has trouble remaining normal sized because of labelled foods and drinks, and eventually meets various animals including a do-do and mouse. She’s ordered to find the duchess’ gloves and fan where she again has trouble remaining a suitable size once inside a small house, Bill the Lizard helps out whilst she recovers by eating pebble-cakes thrown by mocking animals. Continuing on she meets a hookah smoking caterpillar, which quizzes her on her problems and tells her about the mushrooms which can make her grow and shrink by eating their respective halves. She approaches a fish-footman talking to a frogfootman and lets her self into the Duchess’ house. The cook is making soup and causes her baby and Alice to sneeze violently, Alice is given the baby which is actually a pig. Cheshire cat appears in a tree directing her to the March Hare’s house. Alice becomes a guest at The Hatter’s tea party, and is given many riddles and stories to answer for, she becomes frustrated and leaves leading her to the Queen of Hearts garden, she is ordered to play croquet where Flamingos are used as mallets and hedgehogs as balls. The Queen introduces Alice to the Gryphon whom takes her to see the Mock Turtle, he explains to Alice his sorrows but they all end up dancing to the Lobster Quadrille which Alice recites. The Gryphon takes Alice back to an impending trial in which the Jack of Hearts is accused of stealing the Queen’s tarts. Various witnesses share their evidence which pleases and frustrates the King, including the Mad Hatter and Duchess’ cook. Alice is called up as a witness, and upon growing taller destroys the courtroom, the Queen orders her to be beheading in which she wakes up from her dream, on the bank next to her sister.
ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
characters Alice
- protagonist - pinafore with bow, striped stockings, alice band, mid-Victorian era child, loving/gentle, trustful, courteous, curious.
The White Rabbit
- servant for the Duchess - elderly, timid, feeble, nervous, quavering, servant, herald.
The Mouse
- found swimming in Alice’s tears - quiet, French, startled easily
The Dodo
- organises the Caucus-race
The Lory, The Eaglet, The Duck - participants in the Caucus-race
Pat
- works for the White Rabbit as a gardener
Bill the Lizard
- works for the White Rabbit
Puppy
- The White Rabbit’s sniffer dog
The Caterpillar
- oracle figure - hookah-smoking, 3inches tall, unapproachable, rude, difficult, visual paradox, human face, surrounded by tobacco plants.
The Duchess
- owner of The Cheshire Cat - double personality, ugly, unpleasant, advocate, friendly, respectful later on.
The Cheshire Cat
- plays games on Alice - mischievous, grinning, laughing, distinguishable
The March Hare
- guest at the Hatter’s tea-party - delirious, confused, distracted, bonkers, nerve-wrecked, eccentric
The Hatter
- host of the tea-party - mad, upset, nonsensical, random, inquisitive
The Dormouse
- guest of the tea-party - always sleeping/tired
The Queen of Hearts
- foul tempered monarch
The Knave of Hearts - accused burglar
The King of Hearts
- moderate part of government
The Gryphon
- heard, talons and wings of an eagle, body of a lion. - overbearing, dismissive, demanding
The Mock Turtle
- distressed turtle turned mock turtle which cannot feel sorrow
ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
key events
Chapter 1. - Clothed white rabbit with a watch runs past Alice and her sister. - Alice falls down the rabbit hole past cupboards, bookshelves, painting and maps. - Bottle with paper label with the words ‘DRINK ME’ beautifully printed in large letters. Chapter 2. - Alice grows to a tremendous size - Alice’s tears flood the hallway Chapter 3. - The Dodo, Lory, Eaglet and Duck - Alice participating in the Caucus-race Chapter 4. - Bill the Lizard in the chimney - Alice stuck inside White Rabbit’s house Chapter 5. - The Caterpillar - Alice eating the two mushroom halves Chapter 6. - Fish-footman talking to the Frog-footman - Duchess’ cook cooking - The Cheshire Cat
Chapter 7. - The March Hare and the Hatter - “Why is a Raven like a Writing Desk?” - The tea party Chapter 8. - Cards painting the roses red - King and Queen arrive - Playing croquet with flamingos and hedgehogs - Off with the Cheshire Cat’s head Chapter 9. - Alice meeting The Gryphon - The Gryphon taking Alice to The Mock Turtle Chapter 10. - Alice, The Gryphon and The Mock Turtle dancing Chapter 11. - The trial - The jury - Alice growing larger in the middle of everyone - The Hatter talking to The King Chapter 12. - Alice knocking everything and everyone over - The queen shouting “Off with her head!” - Alice waking up on the bank
PURPOSE
what do i want to achieve? Ultimately I’m aiming to achieve 2 illustrations and a cover to a high standard to fit the brief, however my final solution may become somewhat tasteful and appealing to the specific audience but I’m hoping their curiosity and juvenile appeal would persuade them into taken a new approach to familiar stories. More importantly, I am wanting to revive the disturbing puppet scene from where modern children’s television and books were influenced, this includes characters such as the original Basil Brush and Bagpuss. I’m wanting to modernise the styling by having them be computer designed graphics with lots of texture and niche imaging. I’m also wanting to experiment in other mediums, textiles, materials etc. which will eventually support my final solution. Although, not being the canon of children illustration, a person and also child has their own independent feeling towards a book, they pick out certain information which is relevant to themselves and also generate original ideas. Asking someone to then present those ideas whilst also saying, be careful what you say; it’s for a children, feels a little limiting and unfair on both parties. Throughout my life I’ve always thought of Alice’s adventures as some sort of drug-fuelled high secreted by her surroundings in Wonderland, the things seemed creepy and unnatural and some of the original illustrations look absolutely terrifying. In short, I’m wanting to explore my interpretation of the book, some may like it and some won’t but all would take time to either appreciate or question what they’re seeing and take away something from the experience.
DEVELOPMENT
initial designs /alice
influences
influences
INFLUENCES
frank
INFLUENCES
mr blobby
Frank SIdebottom was a character created by musician and comedian Chris Sievey. He wore a 1950s sharp suit and a papier-mache spheroidal head.
A fat pink, spotty character created by Charlie Adams for Noel’s House Party.
The whole aesthetic of Frank is creepy as fuck which is made even more terrifying by his over-enthusiastic and optimistic personality.
He started as a minor character in the show but soon hit fame because of his clumsiness and random characteristics. He was heavily criticised by the older audience for his immaturity and annoyance.
His face is styled from Max Fleischer’s earlier cartoons, including Betty Boop and Popeye, both popular child and cartoon icons. The inspiration came from when i watched the movie FRANK, a story inspired by Sidebottom’s life, written by Jon Ronson who was part of his band. There is something in simplicity that children attach to, maybe because it’s easier to understand or interpret at their age, but as you grow up Frank’s face becomes equally disturbing, and a whole range of perceptions come along with it. I want my illustrations to be simple and understandable easily for children which they would enjoy and remember, yet when Adults pick it up; i want them to react with a ‘what the fuck is this?’
Thinking about it, the way older children’s TV icons were portrayed was in a crude, materialistic manner; you could see the roughness and clattered production of the puppets and suits used, and i believe that is why now, in an era of shiny animation and everything being perfect, they look so bizarre and disturbing. I want to go back to this idea, even if it doesn’t fulfil the brief, to modernise these rough productions of material and texture which created popular characters.
INFLUENCES
max headroom
INFLUENCES
bagpuss
Max Headroom is a fictional character known for his wit, stuttering, distorted and electronically sampled voice. He was popular in the 1980s and was created by George Stone, Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton. He was perceived as “The World’s first computer-generated TV host.” His aesthetic was created through computer-generation, alongside use of hand-drawn backgrounds and prosthetic make-up.
Bagpuss was a character and a children’s TV series created by Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate in the 1970s. Although it was only a series of 13 episodes, it is remembered fondly and was frequently repeated in the UK for over 13 years.
‘He was usually against a “computer-generated” backdrop of a slowly rotating wire-frame cube interior, which was also initially generated by analogue means. Another distinguishing trademark of Max was his chaotic speech patterns—his voice would seemingly randomly pitch up or down, or occasionally get stuck in a loop.’
Bagpuss was never intended nor judged as some creepy, disturbing puppet yet the aesthetic is very mix and match. Certain limbs are falling off, the fur is matted and generally quite old; thus giving off a certain feel of disrespect and horrid. It reminds me of a doll someone picks up in a paranormal film, in some old, decayed, haunted house.
‘The character’s personality was partly intended as a satire of insincere and egotistical television personalities—what Rocky Morton described as the “very sterile, arrogant, Western personification of the middle-class, male TV host”, but also was “media-wise and gleefully disrespectful” which appealed to young viewers.’
I’m going to try and take the quality of friendliness and fondness from Bagpuss, make the characters stick in peoples minds but also approachable and somewhat humorous.
Looking back now, Max Headroom is one of the freakiest characters I’ve ever seen; and truly, a perfect influence for my illustrations. The trippy, illusion-like backgrounds and looping nature of the portrayals ooze disturbing feelings. What I’m wanting to incorporate most is movement, hopefully emphasised by my use of texture and layers and stock images.
“A saggy, old cloth cat, baggy, and a bit loose at the seams”.
DEVELOPMENT
initial designs
Positives: Creepy aspect, ‘subtle’ use of drug imagery, optical illusions, body details, wardrobe details. Negatives: Face could be improved, more texture on Alice herself, Mason jars need improving, possibly colour of background.
DEVELOPMENT
initial designs
Positives: Textures, body form and shape, features, Alice is more prominent. Negatives: Background needs work, more colour and less empty space, texture on Alice’s face needs changing, leg opacity.
DEVELOPMENT
final character design
DEVELOPMENT
doll
To help me with illustrating Alice in a more dynamic manner, i designed and produced a ragdoll. I did this in a weekend with a sewing machine and cheap felt from a stationery store, my method was to sewing two cut shapes together, stuffing with toy stuffing and then hand-sewing all the pieces together to get the final doll. Even though I am not a master on a sewing machine, my inexperience helped rather than hindered. I wanted the doll to be rushed, thrown together, like someone had attached everything they could find with little time and effort; emphasising that creepy, disturbing feel yet still remaining child-like. The eyes were attached with glue, and the hair was also stitched on; i wanted the final thing to look as close to my designs as possible, as this was ideally how i wanted to represent Alice in all my illustrations. I believe the time i spent was worthwhile, showing more physical work and different mediums enhances my creative portfolio, but is also a valuable resource when designing characters and especially them in dynamic situations or environments. It generates a more visual representation of your imagination, without having to compromise or loosely estimate.
DEVELOPMENT
secondary designs
Positives: Textures, features such as eyes, nose and mouth; drug imagery, psychedelic background, tied all together. Negatives: Rabbits nose/mouth, layers making other shapes awkward, opacity changes, colouring.
DEVELOPMENT
secondary designs
Positives: Textures, features such as eyes, nose and mouth; drug imagery, psychedelic background, tied all together. Negatives: Smoke could be lighter, legs need to be more distinguishable, moustache needs removing, possibly real eyes??
DEVELOPMENT
tertiary designs
Positives: patterns, features such as eyes, nose and mouth; drug imagery Negatives: too much going on in the background.
DEVELOPMENT
tertiary designs
Positives: more like a photo, features such as eyes, illusion, setting Negatives: proportions, hands
DEVELOPMENT
cover page thumbnails
DEVELOPMENT
cover page thumbnails
DEVELOPMENT
cover page design
Positives: character, dynamics, fur change, details Negatives: eyes could be different but okay as are
DEVELOPMENT
cover page design
Positives: background suits, colours work well, captures trippy feel Negatives: could be bigger, but restricted on sizing, colours may need adjusting when adding text
FINALS
final cover page
FINALS
final illustrations
DEVELOPMENT
sticker-book After consideration, my illustrations can be taken one step further and presented in a sticker-book type fashion. The 150th year anniversary book would come with pre-printed illustrations with certain elements not there but instead listed onto a page ready for a reader to transfer onto the desired illustration. These elements will be features such as noses, eyes and smiles whilst also including items such as vials, plants and fungi to make the scenes more dynamic. Incorporating a more practical and involving way to read stimulates a child much more than reading out-loud or in their heads, they would be able to indulge in a positive experience where they can stretch their imagination whilst relieving stress and energy. There can also be chances of reintroducing Letraset into the modern age alongside the sticker-book. Letraset is a retro medium used by designers, they were big sheets of images and lettering and were transferred onto paper by scratching away at them whilst applying pressure from above. Using this technique would create a more immersive and also inspiring way of interacting with books, it would also be nice to celebrate other vintage techniques of art and learning alongside old puppetry and child’s television.
influences
DEVELOPMENT
stickerpage ideas
Basic stickers, would also include pages for objects and scenery.
Illustration layout with no features.
FINALS
final stickerbook concept