Production Package for new project

Squirrel Animation (Untitled)

The animation is focused mostly on a squirrel living above a house with lots of domestic, but savage to the squirrel, animals. Two vicous dogs and a sly cat who want to capture and eat the squirrel. He is storing nuts for the winter, and is nearly finished when he spots an unpicked acorn just out on a limb. But as he attempts to reach the acorn he is impeded by several obstacles, the cat, another squirrel who also wants the acorn, and two dogs waiting to eat whichever animal falls first. The cat is out manuevered, the other squirrel is eaten by the dogs, and just as he is about to devoured as well the owners return home and call the dogs inside. However on the way one of the dogs eats the acorn as he runs to his owner.

The story is meant to be a somewhat of a children's animation, although bloody and without a happily ever after ending. It is a fable, a story which is a larger metaphor for life. The message would be, essentially, "you don't always get what you want." The squirrel doesn't really need the nut, but he wants it, and goes out on a limb (literally) for it despite the dangers and near death experiences he still goes for the nut. In the end he gains nothing but the experience.

As far as the art direction I'm looking at a simple, vector style animation. Or possibly filtered photos as resources.

Audio wise there will be little to no voice acting, but sound effects will definitely be key to the success of the animation.

Characters:
Squirrel
Cat
2 dogs

Setting:
Dusty backyard with a couple large trees

Ideas for final

1) Showcase of talent through the exploration of a surreal world, going through several mediums including but not limited to: paintings, drawings, real footage, digital photography, and then taking the realistic imagery and imposing a surrealist touch to them, displacement, trails, ect. Meant to be a showcase of what I can do more than a deep conceptual peice. Something to be presented as a digital portfolio to potential clients.

2) A children's cartoon based on squirrel's trying to harvest the acorns above a backyard with 2 large dogs and cats chasing them.

3) Darkwater (Blackwater) spoof cartoon, adult cartoon based on the secretive world of Blackwater, representing it as a super villain henchmen school.