Abstract
- Telling a narrative that embraces the ability of group.
- A layer of actuality juxtaposed with surreal protagonists
- Discovering magnificence within the surprising.
The Problem of Mixing Totally different Worlds
The foundational concept of Frank and Drake was with the ability to characterize how our distinctive various identities can discover a widespread floor of understanding by completely different ranges of communication and empathy. That precept is legitimate for the characters themselves and their relationship with out bodily contact, however it goes past that. Nearly unconsciously, it affected all of the layers of the event, with a peculiar ambiance on account of using blended arts.
Artwork and Animation: a Collage of Kinds in Concord
The world of Oriole Metropolis is introduced principally by way of illustrated backgrounds that current an correct – but stylized- structure the place nothing is distorted or out of proportion. Our lead artist Romina Correa outlined together with her type this layer of “actuality” in juxtaposition with the rotoscoped protagonists, that dwell within the spectrum of surrealism. However different cases of the sport present completely different methods, reminiscent of tough pencils in black and white (flashbacks), ball pen drawings (journal sketches), stencil and graffiti (partitions of the streets), and even imitations of oil portray (murals in sure places). Working with not solely completely different however versatile artists allowed us to create this visible melting pot inside the boundaries of the lore.
This multi-disciplinary artistic strategy additionally affected the visuals in movement. The rotoscoped animations stand out for apparent causes (and are essentially the most time consuming, with over 8,000 frames drawn!), however there are many different frame-by-frame animations with out footage as a reference that assist the narrative, and even 3D fashions, very handy in complicated rotations or interactions.
Music: the Rhythm of Mild and Darkish
We knew Kai Engel properly from his work within the soundtrack of our earlier recreation keep. The aim in Frank and Drake was not solely to supply each day and night time a novel setting, but additionally mission the best way each characters expertise their actuality. By opposing the hip hop rhythms of Frank with the jazz vibes from Drake, you get a good looking distinction that helps you navigate between characters and to completely really feel the emotional affect of each tales.
Narrative: Two Voices, One Massive Thriller
Crafting a narrative with twin protagonists was a brand new problem for our author and Narrative Designer, Ana Monteiro. Some guidelines wanted to be adopted to make it work: outline distinctive voices with respective personalities and views, so that they couldn’t react to battle in equal methods. They wanted to have character arcs revealing a change of beliefs and behaviors as proof of non-public development, too. And all these inside conflicts needed to conflict towards an exterior conspiracy, one thing that might make their destinies merge in some unspecified time in the future.
In the end, Frank and Drake tells a narrative that embraces the ability of group: how a wierd (and sometimes weird) place like Oriole Metropolis can turn into the house for a lot of people, normally tagged because the outcast of society, and the place range of realities coexist respectfully. The place magnificence may be discovered within the surprising, and variations are accepted in a supportive, cooperative method. We tried to maintain that actual essence with the mixture of a number of artwork kinds all through the sport. The aim was to not attempt for perfection individually, however to discover a cohesive nature within the sum of this trustworthy, fragmented id.
We hope you get pleasure from discovering the story of Frank and Drake.