Character Focus: Epops the Hoopoe.

After looking at the costume piece of the bird mask and discussing the narrative behind it, I wanted to begin concentrating on finalising my choices of character focus. With current events in place, I've taken slight inspiration from certain American politicians in creating this power hungry ruler. First drawing this out in my sketchbook, then taking it over to Photoshop, I've accidentally coloured him to be slightly brighter and healthier looking than I had imagined. I'll probably go back to Photoshop to rectify this, as well as draw out versions of the Hoopoe at different points throughout the film.

This concept art pictured above was to be a representation of him at the beginning of the film; in power over the rest of the birds, he makes an attempt to be formal but it feels a little forced and like he perhaps isn't 100% sure of his decisions himself. He puts on certain graces and takes pride in a diminishing appearance.

After committing unspeakable crimes as a powerful man, he was transformed by the high court and sentenced to live out his days as a Hoopoe; a bird with a 'crown' of feathers, thus mocking his reduction of power. My design will establish this narrative choice by having his feathers falling out as the film goes on and as his character is becoming weaker compared to the two human men, his 'crown' begins to fall.

I've given his clothing a colour scheme of black, white and shades of orange and red in order to replicate the colours of the actual birds plumage. He has twisted, naked 'chicken wing' type 'arms', that were formed after he attempted to turn himself back into a human; this is the only the first of the bodily changes he experienced though. His beak will begin to weaken and chip away, and his feathers will be all but gone by the end. In order to combat this, Epops has a bird mask made, allowing him to keep his once proud and strong beak, and he tries to sew the feathers back into himself in an attempt to maintain his pride and composure. Really though, all this is doing is making him look more and more silly, and it's clear that by he end he's a bit of a mess. It's these changes and the damage to his hubris that sparks him trying to win back the birds and take down Pisthetairus and Euelpides, but I have yet to write that part of the altered narrative in full as of yet, as it's changes to the story I've come to through the designs I've been creating.
The slightly dark narrative of Epops losing his beak and beginning to heavily molt ties into the dark and twisted aesthetic I'm interested in creating, as well as showing the characters downfall.

My next steps will be to create some 'in-character' sketches of expression perhaps, and to create chronological pieces of concept art for this character showcasing his design at various points of the film.
I will also finalise and decide on my other characters that I will be taking forwards so i am able to begin making within the next week.