Our final project will serve as an online âmad-libâ-type interactive project. Users will be given the choice to choose between three stories, each with its own options along the way to customize as they see fit. User interactivity includes inserting a name to be used for the character, choosing what actions the character will perform, selecting the characterâs clothes, among others. Granting the users the ability to shape the story as they wish, our project acts as a light-hearted, collaborative environment where anyone can make stories of their own.
Our project builds on inspiration from the works of both âThe Flippistâ and Peter Veverka. âThe Flippistâ is a flipbook artist whose achieved fame through his intricate flipbook videos on YouTube. His flipbooks cover a variety of topics, ranging anywhere from the Avengers to Usain Bolt to love stories. The vibrant images and intriguing storylines engages the viewer in less than a minute. The Flippistâs drawing style varies from video to video but overall there is consistency within each story. We are inspired by the way he chooses to tell his stories and admire the transitions he utilizes between scenes. We hope to reach the same level of smooth transitioning when making our final project.
In addition to the Flippist, we were inspired by Peter Veverkaâs stop motion film called âIn the Box.â The video was cleverly made and pushes the reader to figure out the significance behind the film without any use of dialogue. Veverkaâs keen use of sound effects and background music allows the viewer to follow along with what is happening in the story. Especially, the sound of the clay walls moving and the figure tapping its foot gives the viewer a deeper understanding of the storyâs progression. Choosing to refrain from narration was a smart choice because it allows the viewer to see the hidden message through the movement of the figure.
Our project will utilize a number of mediums to convey our story. Instead of following the ânormalâ flipbook style of hand-drawn drawings, we will take pictures to give off the effect of a flipbook. Seeking inspiration from Peter Veverka, we plan to add sound effects that correspond with usersâ choices and background music to set the overall tone. The project will be made using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and will provide the user a number of options to adjust the story to their liking. Trying to maximize user interactivity, there will be opportunities for users to change colors, type in text, and fill in gaps in the story. The three options for our stories will be (1) A day at the park, in which users select options such as where to go and what activities to perform (2) A day in paradise, in which users can select a vacation spot and choose options such as what to eat and (3) A rainy day, in which users choose what leisurely activities to perform and how to maximize their day indoors. Our stories have no direct relation and our various choices exist solely to provide the user with more options.