Season Six Visual Development V

Hello from sleep deprivation central. Raviv said this week that he used to say ‘I’m tired’ but now he says “I AM Tired” as in, “Hello, I am Tired, and you are?” I don’t think selling this joke as well as Raviv did because I too AM Tired.

That being said, I listened to a great Deborah Harkness interview about her writing routines and she says a day is successful if she spends time with her work even just for 30 minutes. So in honour of that, and in a bid to not lose myself completely, while Max is “sleeping” (grunting, wriggling, hiccuping), we continue on our pre design journey of the final episodes of Summer Camp Island. All pre design in this post is by Thomas Wellmann.

Episode 14 - Bear With Me

I realise I say this about almost every episode of the final season, but is by far one of my favourites. The relationship with Mildred and Waylon the Bear drew inspiration from classic children’s literature like The Paperbag Princess

and John Bauer

and Thomas Wellmann of course, knocked it out of the park

Episode 15 - Croissant Moon

Sometimes the limitations on modern children’s television can be frustrating, and sometimes they can result in more interesting outcomes. In the final season we were not allowed to acknowledge the concept of death, so instead, Mildred travels into ‘The Metaphysical Reserve’ to rescue Susie. The Metaphysical Reserve can be accessed through your dreams, you just need to find the place to cross over - the Thin Place.

Croissant Moon became a romp through Mildred’s inner consciousness and all the things she quietly worries about.

Episode 16 - Retrace our Hooves

I would be remiss if I did not mention that Older Susie is played in this episode by JOANNA FUCKING LUMLEY.

We wanted to cast someone who we thought Susie would cast as her ideal older self. And it would of course, without question, be Patsy.

Welcome to the world of 1,000 Susies

In this episode we go on a trip through the life Susie wishes she had led, with Thomas mapping them all out for the storyboarders:

See you next week for the final part of our behind the scenes journey. Here is a real time photograph of Raviv and I as new parents:

And a picture of our ultimate fantasy: