Art Of Electrons Robbie Johnson

Contents
rons Synopsis PG 2
acter Concepts PG 4
onment concepts PG 18
tional Notes/ Development Sketches PG 22
t PG 26
board/ Animatic PG 37
uction And development
reation Process PG 48
ating PG 49
acter Colouring PG 50
ground creation PG 51
tional Elements & Lip syncing PG 52
g PG 53
king With the Cast PG 54
king on the Music PG 55
deas PG 56
r PG 57
uction Schedule PG 58
lusion & Thoughts on the Project PG 63

2
Electrons Synopsis
explores the miniature world of
life inside our electrical appliances.
They are a society that thrives from their
sole purpose to provide and transport
power at a constant rate.
Electrons transfer the power within
themselves into orbs which is then given
to our appliances through plug sockets,
engines, etc.

ne Synopsis
day we meet two electrons waiting in
very large queue. Bored from waiting
e of the electrons teases the electron
iting in front of him causing the now
noyed electron to turn around pushing
er the electron behind her causing him
d all the electrons behind him to drop
ir orbs. This causes a power cut in our
rld. Panic ensues amongst the
ctrons, can they resolve this power cut?

4
Zap
tempered character, these
characteristics causes him
to be one of the main
characters in Electrons.
Zap's anger towards
Spark poking him causes
him to break both his and
Sparks orbs and in the
end everyone else.
Zap just wants to get
what he needs too done
and is voiced by Ryan
Harvey.

Zap

6
Spark
but mischivious character
leading her to be one of
the main characters in
Electrons.
Whilst bored waiting in
the queue she decides to
tease and poke Zap,
causing him to get angry
at t her and causing her to
fall and smash her orb.
Spark is usually quite
bright and innocent in her
behaviour and she is
voiced by Chloe Johnson.

Spark

8
Staff 1
as s a member of staff
managing the queue
in the extension lead.
The Staff Electrons are
Electrons who cannot
produce power any
more, so instead they
try too keep things
flowing smoothly.
Staff 1 is calm,
collected and tries to
remain professional
with his work. He is
voiced by Finlay
Dalziel.

Staff 1

10
Staff 2
1, , Staff Electron 2 work
maintain the queue
within the extension
lead.
Also like his college, he
cannot create power any
more, but unlike his
colleague he is a bit
more direct with getting
on with things .
He is good at controlling
a situation. he is played
by Simon Sylvester.

1
Staff 2

12
Volt
packs quite a lot of
energy within him. This
makes him very useful
within the Electrons
world.
He appears tough and
confident, but when the
black out happens he is
the first one too panic.
Volt is both helpful and
a hindrance due to his
ego during the black
out and is played by
Reece Brown.

3
Volt

14
Solaria
care free character and
is s made of green
energy (Solar power,
wind power, etc).
Solaria's creation from
external sources has
resulted in her being
very wiggly, but having
two extra arms which
can come in handy.
Solaria is a popular
character within the
Electron world and is
played by Victoria
Dowling.

5
Solaria

16
Hydro
character who is
created from hydro
power/ electricity.
Hydro's form is
unique, he has no
arms, but can morph
his body into different
shapes and has small
bubbles that raise up
and pop above him.
Hydro is also quite
strong being able to
even pull volt. He is
also played by Matt
Doherty.

7
Hydro

18
Living Room
of f the first locations we
see in Electrons. This
version of the living
room has a large TV,
window and a cabinet.
But the biggest
difference in this version
of f the living room is the
old man, who has since
been changed to an old
lady.
This location is
commonly used too
show how the Electrons
world effects our world,
such as the when the
black out happens.

9
Extension Lead
is our first location
in the Electrons world.
enviorment was
ired by creating of a
ure of curcuit board
ponets and the astetic
aiting in a queue for
e where large
ed objects populate
surrounding area.
goal for this location
to creat an
ronment that would
out of the ordinary
he viewer but normal
he Electrons.

20
The E.B.G Emergancy Power Back up
Room
Generator, is quite
different from what you
may aspect.
The purpose of the E.B.G
is s too help the Electrons
power up their new orbs
and fix the black out. This
enviorment was created
from trying too find a way
to impliment physical/
man power into the story
whilst also taking the idea
of f a generator being filled
wires and machine parts
and flipping it on it's head
into something very
different.

1
B.G Power Room
ect was to try and
rove my illustaration
s. . So the E.B.G got a
nt piece of concept
re I experiment with
pective, depth and
les.
is concept the camera
aced on the of the
er levels of the E.B.G
looking down into the
er of the room.
e final film a shot like
could be used for the
e when Staff Electron
ows his whistle.

22
Additional Information/
Development sketches

3
Additional Information/
Development sketches

24
Additional Information/
Development sketches

5
Additional Information/
Development sketches

26
Writing the Script and the Thought
Process Behind it
the script. In my previous projects there has only ever been a few lines and actions
happening on screen, so the script was usually pretty straight forward to work on
with the help of feedback from others.
But since this project was much bigger and there is a lot more talking is in film
compared too my previous projects, it was a challenging balancing act of dialogue
and actions on screen and condensing it down into a small enough amount, where it
would be suitable to create.
In total there was 11 drafts of script created, the first script being 12 pages long and
the final script being just under 6 pages long. The following pages include the entire
script.

7
OME LIVING ROOM
Script
e an elderly woman watching TV sitting on a sofa chair.
en see behind the TV an extension lead connected to the wall. There is one socket that has a plug in it for the TV.
en zoom into one of the empty plug socket holes.
LUG SOCKET
entering the plug socket hole, there's a micro world with a large winding purple carpet forming queue across the
board floor. The queue is filled with Electrons leading to a stage underneath a large plug coming from the ceiling.
d the queue, are large versions of electrical components such as wires, alit up power signs as well as a digital
In the queue are different glowing electrons holding glass orbs. Along with a couple of staff electrons that are not
g, but maintaining the queue. Near the stage, is one of the staff Electrons helping a green Solaria electron onto
age.
STAFF ELECTRON 1:
Next, Right this way madam, Watch your step.
ing on the stage is another Staff Electron waiting for Solaria. As Solaria stands underneath the plug the staff
n asks her.
STAFF ELECTRON 2:
Have you done this before, you know what to do?
SOLARIA:
Yeah, 30th time today actually. The Staff Electron smiles in acknowledgment to Solaria.

28
Script
Solaria holding her glass orb presses the sides of it and transfers her energy into the orb, the glow around the
Electron begins to dwindle. Once done Solaria throws the orb upwards towards the plug. The plug absorbs the orb
and the staff Electron passes Solaria a new empty glass orb.
STAFF ELECTRON 2:
Thank you, if you can make your way down those steps, they will take you back to the main frame.
STAFF ELECTRON 1:
Next up please, oh watch your step. Further back in the queue we see a yellow electron looking very bored as he
waits in the queue.
ZAP:
(Sighs)
Zap leans to the side of the queue looking at the Electrons in front of him and then looks towards the giant digital
clock as it slowly turns to the time of 20:03:10. Zap closes his eyes a tilts slightly backwards with his arms dropping
to his sides as he grumbles to himself.
ZAP:
(More impatient sigh) come on, I've been waiting here for 8 seconds.
Waiting behind Zap is a pink Electron, who also looks bored. We see the pink Electron looking at Zap with an
expression on her face as if she is planning something.
SPARK: Hmmmm
Spark's face lights up as she comes up with an idea.

9
pokes Zap.
Script
SPARK:
Boop
napping out of his trance of boredom, confused by what just happened, before shrugging it off. Spark then
the other side of Zap.
SPARK:
Boop
ce again looks around confused, as he does so Spark pokes him again.
SPARK:
Boop
keeps poking Zap repeatedly, speeding up as the poking gets faster, making Zap more annoyed until he
around to face Spark swinging his arms towards her.
ZAP:
WILL YOU CUT THAT OUT!
swings his arms, Spark stumbles backward and falls into the Electron behind her whilst dropping her power
hattering on the floor.

30
As the glass shatters Zap stumbles in shock, avoiding the glass shards, this causes him to bump into the Electron in
front of him in the queue.
Script
ZAP:
Ahh, Ugh!
The two watch as each line of Electrons fall into each other like dominoes.
ZAP:
Uhhhh
Zap turns to the Electrons falling behind him, the staff Electron helps Volt at the front of the queue up the stairs.
STAFF ELECTRON 1:
Watch your step-
As the Volt Electron takes a step up the stairs the domino toppling Electrons cause Volt to fall over.
Zap and Spark look at each other, their faces in shock.
VOLT:
Oww!
ZAP & SPARK:
Uh Oh...

1
UTSIDE OF HOUSE
hts inside the house through the window go out.
OME LIVING ROOM
ld lady looks up at the dark light.
ADY:
Script
ld Lady then slumps back into her chair looking relaxed.
ADY:
t'll be alright.
LUG SOCKET
hile, in the dark plug socket, Electrons are running around everywhere in a panic not knowing what to do.
RONS:
HHHHHHH!
see the Electrons panicking, we see one of the staff Electrons trying to calm everyone down to no avail.

32
Script
The Staff Electron is pushed out of the way by Volt.
VOLT:
WE'VE NEVER HAD A BLACKOUT BEFORE! WHAT DO WE DO!
Amongst all the chaos we see Zap and Spark making their way through the crowd, looking for a way out. The two
end up walking towards one of the plug socket's exit tunnels with a sign above it saying "EBG". The two look
confused.
ZAP:
What's the EBG?
Suddenly the two Staff Electrons appear behind Zap & Spark.
STAFF ELECTRON'S:
The Emergency Backup Generator!
STAFF ELECTRON 2:
That'll fix the blackout.
Zap and Spark turn around to the crowd of panicking Electrons and try to get their attention.
ZAP:
Hey!, You guys! Everyone pleas-

3
Script
d Spark's yelling is engulfed by a loud yell from one of the Staff Electron's talking into a speaker.
STAFF ELECTRON 2:
QUIIIIIET!
om goes silent as the panicking Electrons stop in their tracks and face Zap and the others. Zap Steps
ds them.
ZAP:
Okay everybody listen up! We have a plan... I think.
ELECTRON 1:
d we do. Everyone we need to make our way to the EBG! There we can replace your power orbs, power
up and fix this blackout.
STAFF ELECTRON 2:
Any questions?
owd of electrons nod their heads, except for one electron in the back raising his hand.
taff Electron cuts off the question dismissing it.
DISTANT ELECTRON:
Uh, yeah! What's an EBG-!

34
Spark And Zap turn around running into the EBG tunnel, with the other Electrons running behind them as the two
staff Electrons guide the crowd into the tunnel.
EXT: OUTSIDE CABLES
ZAP:
Cmon guys!
STAFF ELECTRON 1:
Okay, this way everybody let's get a move on!
STAFF ELECTRON 2:
This way! Let's Go! Let's Go!
We see cables running from under the house and into the ground. We follow this cable as it leads to a generator.
INT: EMERGENCY BACKUP GENERATOR
Script
The Electrons arrive at the EBG, which looks like a gym. Lots of exercise bikes fill the large room as multiple floors
of bikes can be seen with wall ladders between the floors. There are mirrors on the walls of the room and wooden
floors. All the bikes have baskets hooked onto the front with cables running across the floor into the walls of the
room. As they run into the room, there are two tubed dispensers dropping new power orbs. We see Zap and Spark
run towards each of the dispensers, grabbing a new orb and making their way to bikes as the other Electrons
follow suit.
SPARK:
Quick grab a new orb!

5
Script
om quickly fills as electrons enter and get onto the bikes. They put their orbs into the baskets. One of the
hows off his muscles to some lady Electrons, he is then grabbed by the arm by a Hydro Electron, pulling him
VOLT:
(Grunt) Haha, WHOA!
O:
on! We don't have time for this!
taff Electrons enter the room, one wearing a cap and a whistle. Standing in the middle of the room he blows
istle, causing all the Electrons to begin cycling frantically. As they cycle the orbs begin to glow. Zap's orb is
st 5 to glow and be powered, followed by Spark, and so on. The light then goes out, the room glows in
nt colours from the glowing orbs of each Electron.
STAFF ELECTRON 2:
Alright, that should do it! Quick let's head back!
lectrons jump off, grab their orbs and leave the EBG.
LUG SOCKET
ctrons go back to their original positions.
STAFF ELECTRON 1:
Quick throw your orb!

ELECTRONS:
36
(Cheering)
Script
INT: HOME LIVING ROOM INT
The old lady is asleep in her chair, as the lights turn back on waking her up from her slumber. OLD
LADY:
Zzzzz... AH! Wha...Zzzzz
INT: PLUG SOCKET
Zap and Spark are back in the queue, staring awkwardly at each other.
ZAP:
hehe....hehe.
SPARK:
hehe...yeah. No hard feelings right?
Spark pats Zap on the back, causing him to drop and shatter his orb. Zap in retaliation slaps Spark's orb out of her
hand. The two looks at each other annoyed.
CREDITS/ END

17
Storyboard/ StoryBoard/ Animatic

38
StoryBoard/ Animatic

9
StoryBoard/ Animatic

40
StoryBoard/ Animatic

1
StoryBoard/ Animatic

42
StoryBoard/ Animatic

3
StoryBoard/ Animatic

44
StoryBoard/ Animatic

5
StoryBoard/ Animatic

46
StoryBoard/ Animatic

The StoryBoard/ making of Animatic
Electrons
2 7 that I had set Feedback
myself up for beginning of the
ducon for Electrons. I did receive some
dback from my tutors explaining that they would
to the see the characters appear more bouncy
expressive which I used as one of my key goals
the project moving forward as I started
ducon.

48
The Creation making of process
Electrons
2D animaon using the soware Toon Boom Harmony and edited with soware,
such as Premier Pro and aer Effects. Whilst developing the project, the creaon
process was put into 6 stages, these were the following:
Animang
Character colouring
Background creaon
Background colouring
Addional features and lip syncing
Addional animaon
I felt this six-step process would be the most effecve whilst creang Electrons.
The six steps will be expanded on in more detail on the following pages.

9
The making Animating
of Electrons
ted with simple shapes this proved useful and difficult. This is
ause I had an easy to idenfy shape for most of the characters but
ng the squash and stretch proved difficulty in some shots such as
n ZAP hops on the bike. Figuring out how the character portrays
on of his body, whilst needing to squash and stretch in mid-air
re landing on the bike was a parcularly difficult process.

50
The Character making Colouring of Electrons
bucket tool and drawing within the colour layer. This
proved useful and would take a while as somemes
depending on character movements or number of
characters on the screen. The process would include
things such as re colouring a characters arm movement
for each new frame or squash and stretch for each new
frame.

1
The Background making of Creation
Electrons
effecve with the context of the Electrons world. The
ironments vary from locaon to locaon each with their
n problems to solve such as learning how to draw depth
elevaon for the E.B.G. I would then proceed to colour
backgrounds using the colour layers and even borrowed
ments from mulple Shots and incorporang them into
ers.

52
Additional The making Elements of Electrons
& Lip Syncing
the shots which mostly included glows and colouring to each of
orbs in various parts of the film. Next, I would lip sync the dialogue
to the footage. As no character had a specific jaw line the
character could all use the same mouth and by creang key mouth
posions in another document, I could place each mouth in the
frame they needed to be in and then in between them. Lastly, I
added some addional animaon which included things such as
blinking lights and details to background elements such as the
capacitors.

3
The making Editing
of Electrons
final shots, I would place them in Premier Pro. I would place
shots within the meline and sync the dialogue and foley.
ever, two shots were edited in Aer Effects, these shots were
whenever Grandma was on screen. The reason for this was
ause I used Aer Effects to manipulate the shape and size of
adverts for the television. The foley proved to be quite the
ling act, as a lot of the sound effects (as well as the dialogue)
to be layered on top of each other within mulple audio
ks.

54
The Working making With of Electrons The Cast
both for the main character roles and minor roles.
I learned early on that acng out a scenes and portraying characters to
the voice actors would help them understand what was happening in
the scene and the tone of voice I wanted them to try and achieve.
This also involved a lot of travel including going as far as Leeds on
several occasions, as I would make sure to be there in person for each
cast member and work around their metables. In the end I am
thankful to every person who accepted in taking part of this project.

5
The Working making on of the Electrons
Music
fortunate enough to work with Jack Steggles.
was living at the boom of the country during the making of Electrons, so it
a useful skill to acquire when learning how to effecvely communicate
out being in person.
ther we discussed what type of sounds and style of music should be played
rious points in the film and would try to create it. I would convey an
on or scenario and we would work together and expand our ideas from
e.

56
The making Cut Ideas
of Electrons
cut mostly due to me constraints and quesoning if they were necessary. One
such example is that originally the characters were going to glow to show the
power emanang from them. However, in the end this idea had to be scrapped
due to the risk of the screen being too filled with glows and character colours
mixing too much. In the end this was only applied when they Electrons put
power into their orbs.

7
The making Cut Ideas
of Electrons
it was delivered. The line "I've heard of these black outs! Once the powers
it never comes back!" was originally going to be spoken by the character
This was changed to background audio as the pacing/ming of shot proved
long when placed with everything else.

58
StoryBoard/ Animatic

9
The Production making of Schedule
Electrons

60
The Production making of Schedule
Electrons

1
The Production making of Schedule
Electrons

62
The Production making of Schedule
Electrons

3
Conclusion/ The making Final of Electrons
Thoughts
refining past skills as I had hoped to achieve from the start of the project as
as being able to idenfy areas I would like to improve upon in the future.
l that I have improved my knowledge of creang depth within images,
oving my techniques for walk cycles and lip syncing as well as understanding
n to let go of ideas and concepts on a project for a beer outcome. Of
se, teamwork and communicaon skills were improved thanks to everyone
lved with the project. I would try to make more me to beer the details
in the backgrounds as well as revise the script a couple more mes as I feel a
le of lines did not quite work.
rall, I feel happy with this project as well as coming away from it with new
refined skills and once again thank you to everyone involved whether you
a musician, voice actor or tutor.

Thank you For Reading