The 21 concept art: journey to final aesthetic
Intro
Follow the progression of art and character design for The 21, from initial research and sketches to approved guides.
Discovering Coptic iconography
One of the first tasks in producing an animated film is the need to define the film’s aesthetic: what will be the visual style? the color palatte? what references will be consulted and what existing examples will provide inspiration?
When director Tod Polson first began exploring visual options for The 21, he researched Coptic and neo-Coptic iconography, as well as other iconographic traditions. He traveled to Egypt to spend time with Coptic iconograher Edmon Kamel and consulted with Egyptian animators at Arascope as well as UK-based Coptic iconographer Fadi Mikhail.
Finding the right fit
Initial concepts included art with bold lines and colors, reflecting a more ancient Pharaonic style, as well as options with more muted tones and a watercolor-esque approach. Tod researched the symbology of color and shape in Coptic iconography, as well as the specific aspects of Egyptian history and Pharaonic heritage that are reflected in the Coptic visual tradition.
Reaching the destination
After months of experimentation, consultation and revision, Tod arrived at the approach that felt most authentic to Coptic iconography and received approval from consulting iconographers. Tod created dozens of pieces of concept art, including a thorough guide to the characters and locations, to aide the animators in their work and ensure consistency in the work created by the more than 70 artists from 24+ countries who contributed to the project.
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