Inspiration and Research (9/6/2017)
Aesthetic Inspiration: Journey (2012)
We have been thinking about using a toon shader in order to give the look and feel of a 2-dimensional animation. Though not using a warm color palette as Journey (2012) uses, the idea of mixing pastel-like muted hues and dark ones will work splendidly in a (semi-)tundra-like setting of Japan's northern island, Hokkaido.
Also looking at making stark contrasts done in Oxenfree (2016)
Story Inspiration: Yuki Onna Myth of Japan
The story of the animation stems for the Yuki-Onna myth. The yokai's namesake translates similarly to "Snow Woman". This myth has many re-tellings of who she is, particularly in central and southern Japan. With many incarnations of her myth, we've found the one that stems far and wide on Japan's mainland particularly fascinating. Such a particular incarnation comes from Fukushima, Akita, Fukui, and Ibaraki areas. The Yuki-Onna is known to be the "talking snow woman" as she appears on dark, snowy nights calling out to those she sees. If the person responds to her greeting, she attacks, but if she is ignored, the Yuki-Onna will throw you into a ravine as punishment.
Story Inspiration Part 2: Ainu People of Hokkaido, Japan
Below images show the traditional clothing worn by the Ainu people:
In addition to the Yuki-Onna myth, we were researching the Ainu people who live in the chilly, northern island of Hokkaido (not all but many of the Ainu do). Though the Ainu do not have a Yuki-Onna myth due to various reasons, we conceptualized mixing bits of the Japanese culture with the Ainu. The story revolves around an age-old myth of the Japanese, while aesthetically the environment and characters are of the Ainu, an age-old ethnic group in Japan. Another retelling of the myth has been created from two distinct cultures in Japan.
