Many Maladies

character sketch for Freddy Foodstuff, narrator of the Digestive Education Segment

Scene 11: Pancreas Island in the Land of Gastros was completed a couple of days ago. I will need to tweak a few things (much like in every other completed scene), but it is 98% done. If it had to go into the final project as is, I wouldn’t cry (much). This is to say the visuals are complete, the audio for the scene won’t be touched for a while.

The Many Maladies of Marty Mitchell Pilot Episode “Of Maggots and Meat” will be composed of 16 scenes/segments. As it stands now, 6 of them are complete (1-3,5,7,11). Scene 8 is very close and I started Scene 9 today. Elements have been built for 4, 6, and 12, but they are still in the very early stages (partly because I haven’t cast or recorded dialogue for a few of the Fridge Landers). Scenes 13-16 haven’t been started. I estimate I am roughly 40% done with the visuals. That leaves me 9 months to finish the other 60%.

The smiling cowboy above is Freddy Foodstuff. He is anthropomorphized masticated food and the star of Scene 9. Jon Gormley was kind enough to perform his voice, as well as Dr. Enzyme. He’ll be teaching us about the process of digestion while he giddy-aps through the digestive tract.

Marty watches as the Enzymes convert food into energy

Ejected onto Pancreas Island

Work continues on Scene 11 wherein Marty visits Pancreas Island and meets the Enzymes. Thus far, this is the only part of the short that includes actual 3D CGI animation. I am using a really old version of  Vue Infinite (I only barely know how to use it) to create the island and its environs. Everything else that has been done so far has been traditional 2D or After Effects 2.5D (flat planes distributed in 3D space).

Here are a couple of samples of Marty composited into the CG world.
Higher quality versions and other fun stuff are available at the Marty Facebook Fan Page (it’s where all the cool cats are hanging out these days).

Marty stares into the Gastric Ocean

Marty meets the Enzymes for the first time

Here is a first look at the Enzymes who live on Pancreas Island in the Land of Gastros.

Marty stops, surprised by the noise. He looks around, but sees no one.

MARTY
Who said that?

DOCTOR ENZYME
Down here, Bigfoot!

Marty looks down. At his feet are a large number of odd and small creatures. They are ENZYMES.

MARTY
Whoa! Who are you?

DOCTOR ENZYME
Don’t you know anything?! We’re enzymes, you big interloper!

Marty is confused.