Toonhoff
Toonhoff was made in 2002 with a group
of school children in Liverpool, to explore ideas around architectural
space in animation.Looking at it's impact on narrative and the demands
of the characters it accomodates. The work was positioned within the
context of animation as a cultural form and used animation techniques
as layers within the work. The children were provoked by existing animated
worlds towards assembling new architecture(narrative and formal) to
accomodate animated characters that spoke to them.
Characters were designed for each classroom group. The character acted
as a kind of client delivering a brief to each group of designers.Each
character grouping having its own particular living requirements and
subtle cultural definition in terms of fantasy, politic, aspiration,
taste, and so on. Animation techniques became metaphors for the children
to respond to, the difference for example between a 2D character and
a 3D character and how this should potentially be accommodated in imagined
space. The characters were dubbed using live actors voices.
The children worked in teams to draw and define the spaces each character
could inhabit. They were asked to think of interior design, furniture
design, textiles and so on as well as the architecture and building
materials. The children made detailed drawings and 3D models which conveyed
these designs.
The models were re interpreted in animation software.
Feedback from the characters to the children
was delivered in response to these spaces.
The characters inhabited their spaces.
These episodes were edited together to make a short film which includes
the character introduction, the design stage, the character feedback
and the final narratives.