Openlab: LINK TO PUBLIC DOMAIN STORIES 2 (https://nofilmschool.com/fairy-tales-public-domain). 

Fairytale I choose: The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen

PART 1 REQUIREMENT 1: CONCEPT, EXPANDED

Brainstorm different ways to reinterpret this story through your own unique lens. Try changing/updating/altering one or more of the primary elements of a pre-existing story:

CULTURAL INFLUENCE

GENRE

MOOD

SETTING

UPDATE CHARACTERS

2 of the primary elements of a pre-existing story:

Brainstorming for SETTING: 

Ponds

Lakes

Marshes

Swampy Areas

Brainstorming for MOOD: 

Sad

Emotional

Depressing

Disturbing 

PART 1 REQUIREMENT 2: RESEARCH, EXPANDED

PART 1 REQUIREMENT 3: STORY PROPOSAL, EXPANDED

Paragraph 1: INTRO:

What is the big idea?: The big idea of the story called the ugly duckling is the search for personal identity based on Where do I fit in?. 

What is the concept of the story?: It’s a tale that teaches people they will not always be accepted, but that there is beauty in everyone and a place where they belong.

What is the original story we know?: The original story is about a duckling who, when hatched along with his brothers and sisters, is laughed at because they named him as ugly.

How are you going to twist it?: If I were to reboot the Fairytale Folktale or Fable Reboot of the ugly duckling story is to look at the original cover of the book first and once I look at it, i can brainstorm of what changes that I can make to make sure it’s not the same as the original poster. I will use Adobe Illustrator to update it and revise it to make sure it doesn’t look like the same cover, but shows the same connection towards the story. 

Paragraph 2: DETAILS:

Quick Summary: The summary is about an ugly duck who is shunned and teased for having a physical appearance that the other animals think is horrible.

Characters: Ugly, The Ducklings, Mother Duck, The Frogs, The Cats, The Fox and Swan Queen.

Description of the Characters: 

Ugly: She looks different to the other ducklings, and runs away to try and find others like her. 

The Ducklings: Bright yellow and a bit mischievous, they don’t want to play with Ugly because she looks and dances differently to them.

Mother Duck: She loves all of her family including Ugly, but gets cross when they are naughty.

The Frogs: Love to have fun leaping and dancing around, and they can jump very high.

The Cats: They enjoy basking in the sun but are quite unfriendly towards Ugly.

The Fox: Charming and gracious, but likes to make a snack out of ducklings!

Swan Queen: Elegant and enchanting, she takes Ugly into her flock of swans. 

Setting: The Setting takes place in a country during the summertime on a farm. Then, the scene shifts to a pond where the mother duck tries to teach her babies the way of the world.

Motivations: The Motivation of the story is about self-acceptance, resilience, and the beauty of transformation.

Paragraph 3: IN SUMMATION:

Why is the twist important?: It’s important because when people’s identity is tied into their appearance, it reduces their self-esteem. Also, it demonstrates how people can be themselves means people be who they are, no matter how they look. 

Why are you telling it?: It can Introduce people to a world of imagination. 

What are you hoping to achieve?: Make the fairytale reboot look unique when it comes to my illustration skills and techniques. 

Who is this for?: This Fairytale of this story is for Children.

Is there a message you want to get across that your re-imagination of this story is intended to convey? Explanation of the changes you are making for your re-interpretation? Demographic for project?

The message I wanted to get across is that I’m reimagining this story is that Appearances are misleading, and it’s better to accept a person for their many good qualities than accept them based on physical looks when you look at the subject.