💫 SPOTLIGHT / INTERVIEW 💫
Unveiling Herd Adventures Pilots: A Director's Perspective with Charlotte Webb
What inspired you to create the world and characters of Herd Adventures Pilots?
Herd Adventures was inspired by my childhood friends of whom I played many games with on the playground. We would go on many “Adventures” together and we would have a lot of fun making films and different projects together so I decided to dedicate a whole show based on us and the world’s we would make.
Enderb’s peaceful life quickly turns into an unexpected adventure. What drew you to this kind of storytelling?
I wanted to create a story on how taking an opportunity will sometimes reward you, in this case, new friends. The opportunity that Enderb jumps on (rescuing Edwards) allows him to open up a new world of possibilities with a new friend. Making friends has always been a hard task in my life so I wanted to show how I feel a good friendship could be made.
Trailer
About:
Both of the Pilots for Herd Adventures the Animated Show:
Part 1: Enderb the Human builds a house in the forest, destined for a peaceful life. However his plans are turned upside down when he encounters a strange being from another world.
Part 2: Enderb and Edwards wake up one morning to find someone raiding their home. Little do they know, this is the start of a life changing mission.
The project blends fantasy, mystery, and humor. How did you balance these elements while developing the pilots?
I wanted to have an equal balance of the elements by pacing the story as best as I could and adding jokes at relevant times to create the humor seen in the episodes.
Can you tell us more about the relationship between Enderb and Edwards and how their dynamic evolves throughout the story?
Enderb and Edwards start off as acquaintances, Edwards owing Enderb a favour after he rescued them. But during the show, the will develop into becoming the best of friends, having each others backs no matter what.
The “strange being from another world” introduces a fascinating twist. What inspired the creature and its design?
The strange being from another world adds a twist as I introduces more concepts to explore around Edwards’ and Hero9’s back stories. Their stories are inspired by the games that my friends and I played as children, using the ideas that we created as kids.
As an animation director who loves creating “weird, whacky and wonderful” films, how does Herd Adventures Pilots reflect your creative vision?
Herd Adventures reflects my vision of the weird wacky and wonderful by creating concepts unknown to humans by introducing new planets and stories to be told. The Riptopians give the opportunity to tell stories using magic and allowing the audience to witness something unusual.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during the animation process?
During the Animation process, my computer corrupted and I lost weeks of work, so I had to remake several scenes. That was a pain but I eventually got back on track to finish the Pilots.
Did you have any particular animated films, shows, or artists that influenced the visual style of the pilots?
My artstyle is influenced by Japanese Anime with a bit of my own style mixed into it. I learned Anime art during my time developing my artstyle and mixed skills own art into it to create something more unique.
The second pilot hints at a much larger mission and adventure. Without spoilers, what can audiences expect from the future of this story?
The Audience can expect magic, conflict and a new friendship waiting to be born.
How important is world-building in your creative process, and how did you approach it for this project?
World building is very important in my project. A film the I have made previously ties into Herd Adventures as a spin off to develop the world that the stories take place in. The world of Herd Adventures is very extensive and I plan to develop on it further I future episodes.
What emotions or messages do you hope viewers take away after watching Herd Adventures Pilots?
I hope that the audience uses Herd Adventures as a reminder that taking risks doesnt always end badly and that making new friends is a fun Adventure to be had.
What advice would you give to aspiring animators and filmmakers who want to create imaginative independent projects?
Just do it. Grab some friends, get your equipment ready and make it. Its a lot of fun and even though it may be stressful, it is al worth it in the end!
