ROBIN

NWO - Public Cinema

Created by Public Cinema as an assignment by the NWO (the dutch science council), ROBIN became the first dutch interactive film.

During the movie we follow our protagonist Robin, who encounters different sociological, technological, ecological or political dilemmas in different phases of his or her life. The issues at hand are actual cases modern scientists are dealing with at the moment and form challenging choices for the audience to make.

Robin on board a ferry during her travels through Asia

PRODUCTION

As an interactive animation with multiple storylines, each during about fifteen minutes, ending up in sixteen different endings. In total we had to create about ninety minutes of animation within the production period of three months. Initially I was brought on board as a senior visualiser and storyboarder in a team of fourteen others. But all of us ended up doing so much more to make this movie happen.

STORYBOADING

The first phase was also the most challenging one. Because of the tight deadline, we immediately had to start storyboarding while the different scenarios where still being drafted and constantly had to be edited. Not just because of our feedback on the flow and continuity of the storylines. There was also another factor insisting on changes.

The fact that we were writing about topics and innovations that are on the forefront of scientific research ment that some of the subjects where being changed, or disproven by new research while we where writing about them. For example; methods of battling climate change or something like legislation on altering genes of unborn children. This sometimes meant we had to change an entire storyboard.

Above: Robin finds out his newly invented fertiliser can be weaponised with a small alteration.

Character designs for Robin by Saverio Wielkens

CHARACTER DESIGN

Meanwhile the first designs for the main character Robin where being made. The final approved design was done by Saverio Wielkens. Who then also created a male variant and also both sexes in different ages. Ranging from toddler to elderly.

But creating many different lifecycles meant making many different characters. Parents, soldiers, astronauts, teachers, scientists even A.I. boyfriends to name a few. Some of them carefully designed beforehand, some of them designed on the spot while working on a scene.

chptr 2.2: teacher designed by Vera de Koning

chptr 2.1: Everything, designed by Marije Dudink

Chptr 4.1: Otto designed, by Saverio Wielkens

Astronaut outfit design by Egon de Regt

Military Scout Unit designed by Egon de Regt

PROP & VEHICLE DESIGN

As every chapter is set in the future, we had to do a lot of designing based on what was needed in the story.
We had to make sure that the designs were entertaining to look at but weren't too far fetched since they'd have to look as if it is possible that they will come to be in the next 20 to 40 years. Therefor we needed to take a close look at what already exists, and think of how it might change in the coming years.