Story Development

After researching what elements in animation and film evoke the strongest emotional responses, I decided to develop my storyline based on my findings. Firstly, I found that bittersweet scenes have a higher impact than scenes that are either happy or sad. However, the ratio of 'bitter' to 'sweet' needs to be tilted further towards the negative than the positive. My initial thoughts for this were that my main character in some way sacrifice must himself to achieve his goals. I did not want it to be as one dimensional as a simple act of heroism, but instead felt there needed to be more subtle implications that were more open to interpretation. I had already decided on the location and species of the two characters - an octopus in the ocean and an anemone in a rock pool - and the barriers that these two elements provide. A difference in species suggests to the audience a sense of hopelessness from the onset, whilst the contrasting environments implies a further suggestion of cultural differences.

The major association with rock pools is the changing of the tides. I felt that changing water levels would provide a good pace setting for the animation, but also have the darker undertones the hazard of low tide can bring for creatures that live in rock pools. This gave me the idea that the octopus could believe the anemone was in danger as the tide receded, and therefore attempt to rescue her and take her in to the ocean. The dual ending could then come from the octopus not making the journey, but sacrificing his life so that she may live. However, I felt this did not give a happy enough ending for the octopus, as it did not complete his ultimate goal: to win the love of the anemone. Therefore, I felt the scene would have the strongest impact if the anemone had remained seemingly apathetic towards the octopus up until the end moments, where she reciprocates her love and the octopus dies happy.

After deciding on the motivation of the main character, I then had to decide on the path the octopus would undergo to achieve his objective. After discovering the anemone, the octopus then has to set out a plan for courting her. In order to do this, I decided to show three different attempts to woo her, each one bringing him closer to her than the last. However, to add more dynamic to the piece, I thought it would be more interesting if something went wrong with each of his attempts.

I have also recognised the need for certain plot devices in order to show the audience the octopus's decision making process and to help the narrative flow. Initially, I want to show the octopus drifting sorrowfully across the ocean as he notices other couples. This will alert the audience of the octopus' mental state, and also build up the meeting between the octopus and the anemone.