#mjbarros

We are so close to the end of this arc of the saga! We worked so hard to deliver in every level on season 7, believe me when I tell you that this season will be EPIC.

I worked in episodes 702, 705 and 708, so you can count that I will write some comments on my process doing boards for those episodes. Stay tuned! haha

Also, has been a couple of years since the last time I draw this characters, so I decided to do a some of quick doodles, and see if I still remember how to draw them haha, hope you like them, even if they are pretty sketchy, I did them in SB Pro. (No spoilers of season 7, just random drawings!)

Also, unrelated, but, after years doing this, I feel I reached that moment that every storyboard artist reach when you relize that you are more comfortable drawing in SB Pro that in any other software, also I only can draw messy, I don't know what is a clean line anymore, hahaha.

See you in December 19 for the last chapter of the Mystery of Aaravos.

This incredible, showstopping, intensely romantic, utterly perfect commission is from @mjbarros​ who drew a 50s Amari slowdance! Every time I look at it I go completely soft, it’s more perfect than even my imagination! 

My other piece from @mjbarros and her emergency commission sale, based on Scales and Light, Flesh and Steel.

There was a soft click, and a hiss of releasing gas as the visor darkened and the faceplate dropped away from the crown. His hand came around to the chin of the mask, then gently drew it down and away. Satya’s breath caught as he set the faceplate on the bedsheet. His eyes were a tawny shade that was similar to his brother’s, but something in the sadness and strength she saw there was captivating. She found herself lost in his eyes for a long moment before she truly saw the rest of his face, his skin marked with long, almost feathery scars that traced the lines of his cheekbones and nose.

Ramen issued a trilling murmur, then nuzzled against the exposed skin. A moment later, Genji gently pressed against the edge of the armored gorget that protected his throat and concealed his mouth, then slowly pulled it away, revealing flexible composites and grey plates beneath, the cybernetics blending into the bones of his lower jaw.

“So,” he breathed softly, and Satya curled her fingers against his, “this…is me.”

It's true, the Moonberry Surprise moment, it is my fault

I hope you can forgive me for my sins. Hahahaha.

Ok, let's talk about this little sequence. But first, some... context?

Ok, so, Dragon Prince was my first job as Storyboard Artist, before coming to DPR I was working as a Storyboard Revisionist in Lego NinjaGo Crystalized. So I applied to Dragon Prince with not hopes that they will hire me, and when the offered my the job I was in awe.

So basically, I arrived to work in season 4 as a Junior Storyboard Artist. They gave me little sequences during season 4 (I was mostly helping my unit director with revisions) they gave me more during season 5 and 6, working on my strengths, emotional moments, long talking sequences and some combat. You know what was not there? comedy, because it was not one of the things I knew well how to do. But after a year and a half working in the show, I was seasoned enough to be a proper Storyboard Artist, not a rookie anymore. So they finally assigned me a comedy sequence.

I was terrified. Today after years in the industry, I can say that I am not scared of comedy anymore. But when I read the script and I realized that they were expecting a big comedy moment from me , I knew I was in trouble. But as they say, "you fake it until you make it" I took a deep breath and smile to my unit director like "Of course I can do this!"

But ok, lets talk about the sequence. We start nice, with the moon fam enjoying some time together. Was an opportunity to work with Runaan and Ethari, and that is always cool! I love how Ethari is just happy of everyone being there, and Runaan just wants to kill Callum (in an affectionate way, like he is just a protective dad, you know, a no nonsense dude)

So yeah, they talk a little and Rayla handles Callum a slice of Moonberry Surprise. Is like this almost mythical dessert that is said tastes like nothing else in all Xadia. And Callum is so excited to try it!

So, the script did not call for anything you saw in that sequence. The script instructed to reveal the Moonberry Surprise like something out of this world, and then have Callum almost having an epiphany when he tries it. My first idea was to have Calum almost levitating on his seat while eating it, while the rest of the moon fam looked at them in confusion. But during the launch of the episode (this is the stage where directors and in the case of DPR writers, tell SB artist what they want for every sequence we will board, we pitch ideas, and so on) was more clear to me that they were expecting something more of an "out of this world experience". Like the "I love books" moment that Callum had on season 5, episode 2, but on steroids.

So I was ok, lets make it as trippy as possible. So we have this fast zoom in into Callums face, that lead us into this "dimension of flavor" he is being transported to.

And he opens his eyes and he is floating in this space of color and flavor, his spirit being lifted by this experience.

He is experiencing all this flavors, eating this huge blue berries (this was my Unit director idea, Thanks Katherine!!), when something catches his eye. A figure, looking to him from the above, almost like a god.

And Callums looks up, revealing... this:

So, I have a really particular sense of humor (not unique, because I feel a lot of people share it, particular because really specific things make me laugh a lot). I was born late 80's grew up on the 90's with all the weird cartoons and anime of that time. For me adding muscular arms to things is the best joke ever.

This is peak humor to me:

So I was like, what if, Callum does the Titanic spinning thing, with a muscular slice of pie? So I did that... And I was SURE they will reject it.

So I finished my roughs, and I sent them to my Unit Director. She was "this is so stupid" (in the best way) so, she added some placeholder music, and send it for review from the directors, while both of us were expecting to have it rejected.

A couple of days after, our Storyboards Supervisor was like "WHO DID THE MOONBERRY SURPRISE SEQUENCE??" And I was like "me?", and he was like "Aaron LOVED IT!" and I was like "?????" so, yeah, was approved.

So yeah, that is my legacy, I guess. I am Runaan in this shot:

So well, those are all my sequences in episode 705.

Sorry again for being responsible for the birth of that thing. But that is my son now, and I kinda love him, even if he looks like that....

Next post will be my last! So yeah, stay tunned for my last post about my boards in The Dragon Prince, episode 708!

It is finally announced! I had the priviledge to work in this new season of Unicorn Academy as Storyboard Artist, and I had a blast! This was a board team full of talent and creativity and it was a really fun season to work on.

I can see some of my shots in the trailer!! It is so excited to see them finalized! Every team did great from animation to lighting and comp <3 so great to see. Also the models and rigs for this season were great, and we also had such a talented group of designers!!

Maybe later I can share a little more about my work in boards and the process in the show. in the meanwhile go and wacth Unicorn Academy, its a fun ride!

Support animation!!!!

Some of my shots:

"Rivals"

I really love them <3

Watch Revue Starlight if you can, is a masterpiece!