Longfellow’s WHALE Tales
Studio
Double Scoop
Client
The American Red Cross
Role
Development, Storyboard
The American Red Cross asked Double Scoop to revitalize their Youth Water Safety program for a modern audience.
I dove in early on in development, contributing concepts and designs for four distinct visual approaches and collaborating with the client define their vision. I then took on the role as Lead Story Artist, further refining the vision, humor, and pacing for the series.
We partnered with the incredible production team at Split Studio to fulfill the animation and composite across all episodes. It was a joy to see such a fun-forward (and often off-beat!) approach realized across every scene, nailing the mission set by Wilbert E. Longfellow himself: 'entertain hugely and educate gently'.
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Production Duke & Duck
Producer Mike Capbarat
Series Director, Art Director Katie Trayte
Storyboard Stella Oei, Conner Troxclair
Design, Animation & Composite Split Studio
Music The Pop Ups
Sound Design Panela
Longfellow voiced by Skip Kelly
Development
In all, four concepts were developed as different directions to take the series. One was a mixed-media approach that included a trio of ne’er-do-wells known as the “Barnacle Bandits.” Another was imagined along the lines of a printed survival guide, showcasing the do’s and don’ts of water safety. We also pitched an action-comedy built around a trio of junior lifeguards and Longfellow in an “M” role (or maybe a “Q”?). Lastly, we played with the concept of “discovering” a vintage lesson series circa the 1920s, back when Wilbert Longfellow was running the show himself!
Storyboard
The following are excerpts from four episodes of WHALE Tales, with side-by-side comparison between the Animatic to Final Picture. Several panels are loose and sketchy, reflecting a short turnaround and last-minute swaps of characters in some videos.
