The goal of this project was to create a visual narrative for the history of the teddy bear. Tailored for children ages. 5 and above, the video aims to educate and engage youthful imaginations. Although targeted towards youth, this video may also bring a sense of nostalgia to an older audience.
Video
Written Treatment
The history of the teddy bear in the United States is relatively short and straightforward. Act One tells the story of how Theodore Roosevelt's refusal to shoot a tied-up bear during a hunting trip inspired the creation of the stuffed toy "teddy's bear" by Morris Michtom. This act turned into a political cartoon, and after gaining permission from the president to use his name, the toy became immensely popular, dominating the country. Act Two delves into statistics regarding yearly teddy bear sales and their benefits, such as alleviating loneliness, anxiety, and fostering imagination and comfort. It also highlights their popularity as gifts for any occasion. The final act explores the influence of teddy bears, including the build-a-bear franchise, Winnie the Pooh, snuggles commercial, and Care Bears. The infographic maintains a fun and friendly tone throughout, ensuring easy comprehension, particularly in the beginning where the origin story is conveyed swiftly and accurately. The aim is to captivate the audience's attention in a magical way, leaving them with an appreciation for teddy bears and a positive vibe.
Storyboard
Concept Development
Moodboards
These moodboards revealed that using too many colors may overwhelm a viewer, hence the color simplification later down the process.
Styleframe 1
This explored style was overlay chaotic. A lot going on, too childish and did not fit well with the voice actors tone.
Styleframe 2
This was an interesting style, it was modern and sleek, but didn't have the visual play that would engage with a kid's demographic.
Color Tests
Testing out to see if the simplified color palette was the right approach.
script
After my extensive research on the Teddy Bear origins, I wrote a script that was later sent out to voice actor, Cameron Curtis, to narrate the video.
Music Testing
Track 1
Track 2
Track 3
Track 4