[AI Picture Book Production Log #2] Urashima Taro x Japanese-style Fantasy! Revealing the hidden settings of the Dragon Palace
Hello, this is Furumosu.
The "Dragon Palace Great Operation" is a project to transform my self-made kamishibai animation into a Kindle picture book using AI.
Last time, I shared the declaration of "why I am taking on this challenge now."
In this second installment, I would like to delve a little deeper into the "dedication to the work's theme, concept, and emotional design" behind the scenes of the production!
I hope you will take a peek behind the curtain to see why we are carefully nurturing this story, rather than it being "just another cute picture book."
🐢 Japanese Folklore (Urashima Taro) x Furumosu's Fantasy World
This work, "Beaver and Beesuke's Dragon Palace Great Operation," is a story that mixes the "Japanese folktale (Urashima Taro)" that I have loved since I was a child with the "Furumosu fantasy world" that we cherish and illustrate.
Originally, the "Furumosu World" is a place where various animals and plants live peacefully, side by side.
This time, we have incorporated a worldview that weaves together the old and the new: "Japanese folklore x AI x original characters."
A somewhat nostalgic Japanese-style fantasy atmosphere
An enchanting and mysterious Dragon Palace spreading across the bottom of the sea
Interactions between unique sea creatures and the beavers who came from the land
While keeping the accessibility of the folktale, I want to express a completely new "Furumosu-style Dragon Palace"!
🌊 The theme of "coexistence between the sea and living things" that I want to convey without being preachy
Actually, this story has a "hidden theme." It is about the environmental problem of sea creatures caused by trash that humans throw into the ocean.
Sea friends who mistake the trash humans carelessly throw away for food, only to become weak and sick...
In my previous picture book (Mushimushi Kingdom), I addressed the forest issue of "nara-gare" (oak wilt), so this time I created a story with the angle of "problems related to the sea."
However, the thing we value most is "not being preachy."
Instead of forcing people to "study environmental issues!", the priority is to have them enjoy the exciting story and the adventures of the characters first.
My goal is to create a warm approach where parents and children can naturally develop kindness, thinking, 'Sea creatures are so cute' or 'I want to keep the ocean clean' after finishing the book.
🎨 Emotional design and production focus conveyed through 'blue, light, and atmosphere'
In picture book creation, 'color, light, and atmosphere' are just as important as the text.
I have packed this book with an emotional design of 'joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure' that will move the hearts of all my readers.
The refreshing atmosphere of the summer sea: The excitement of the moment an adventure begins
The mysterious blue world under the sea: A depiction of light that pulls you in the moment you open the page
The Japanese-fantasy-style Dragon Palace: A gorgeous, slightly mystical, yet somehow warm atmosphere
As I remake my old digital anime-style original drawings into a 'picture book texture with the warmth of analog watercolors and gouache' using AI as my art tool, I am testing how far I can bring out this 'depth of blue' and 'lighting production'.
I am currently struggling with prompts (instruction text) and pushing the limits of expression!
☕ As a 'laboratory' to peek behind the scenes of creation
Beyond just drawing and publishing, there is no greater joy for me as an author than having you enjoy the background of 'what kind of thoughts went into creating this world'.
Next time, I plan to show you my actual workspace, including 'before-and-after images of remaking original drawings using AI' and funny AI failure stories where things didn't go as planned!
If you 'like reading about the hidden settings of a work' or
'are interested in what kind of expressions can be created with AI'
I would be happy if you could 'like' or follow me and look forward to the next experiment log!😊
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