Breakdown

Introduction

Breakdown is a team project made by second year students at Escape Studios. This is a comedy short film which was done in five weeks by our hardworking animators.

Synopsis

Two strangers. One elevator. A panic-filled ride to remember!

Two strangers find themselves trapped in an elevator when it unexpectedly halts midway between floors. The first slim and more reserved stranger unfazed while the second stranger, large and confident attempts to mask his fear. However, as time passes and the elevator remains motionless, his facade begins to crack much to the lanky man's displeasure. Things begins to escalate as the larger fellow's attempts at escape become more and more fruitless. Finally, just as tensions reach their peak, the elevator jolts back to life. Doors opening in front of a small child, revealing the once so boastful man on top of the now irritated skinny man. The large now bashful man tries to now escape the embarrassment only to have the doors shut on him.

The characters

Meet our two main characters. The big guy and the skinny guy! Also nicknamed Dude and Franklin from the rigs they were from. These two rigs were chosen to create more comedy for this short. The big guy is usually very confident, but can very easily fall into a panic. The skinny guy seems to be a little unsure, but he at least keeps his cool and does not make a fuss about problematic situations.

Some texturing needed to be done to make sure the big guy gets sweatier throughout the short film.

The environment

Here is the elevator and elevator lobby with some of the lighting, all of which was created by the team!

The animatic

View the team's early animatic which was used to first pitch the idea to show the characters, their actions and their expressions. The project went through some changes, but the idea was kept the same throughout the weeks.

The team

Anna Pinart - director, lighting artist, animation lead, animator

Belle Leuschke - modeller, texture artist, storyboard artist, animator, sound designer, editor

Serena Kerridge - animator

Daniel Joseph - art director, sound designer, animator

Caroline Geddis - producer, storyboard artist, animator