REBECCA SUGAR STORY BOARD SERIES

Given your background in storyboarding could you give our readers any advice on this aspect of production or insight into your own working practice? I want the thing to be like a meat and potatoes cartoon, one which functions but is also beautiful when it’s meant to be. I’ve tried to figure out what I was trying to achieve working in that loose expressive way during storyboarding, and see how I can make the show functionally be like that and work whilst still not being half decisions or fudged decisions To make something look pretty. I definitely have become super aware of how a drawing that is pretty and expressive is going to end up translated into animation, as I have now seen the whole process pan out in front of me as I work on the show, looking over the the board stage and looking at the animation when it comes back.

I think that’s what I’ve learned from this experience, learning to make those kind of choices translate into something that can be animated. I learned a lot about what does and doesn’t work, there are things that can make a drawing look good and fluid but it’s not really functional. What were the challenges of translating that to an animated production? Your illustrative work and storyboard work is very fluid. I couldn’t really have predicted who was going to come on board to make this with me, so that has been my favourite bit about the whole experience working with the crew. It’s been amazing and overwhelming! Making a show has always been my dream and getting to work with the team on the show has been the most amazing part of it.

REBECCA SUGAR STORY BOARD SERIES

This is your first series for cartoon network, how has the experience been for you? The show brings together the loose line work of Sugar’s own drawing and background in storyboards as well as all the design and boldness of story that we’ve come to expect of Cartoon Network’s contemporary range of shows. After inheriting his Gem from his mother Rose Quartz, it is up to Steven and his faithful friends Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl to learn to use its powers to stop evil as well as have a good time. The show centers around Steven (loosely based on Sugar’s younger brother, himself also an accomplished background artist working at Cartoon Network) following him as he lives partly in the magical world of the Crystal Gems and partly in the real world set ting of Beach City. Until recently Sugar worked as a storyboard artist on Adventure Time before developing Steven as the studio’s first female show creator. Rebecca Sugar’s first show Steven Universe made its UK debut on Cartoon Network in May and is soon to be releasing its second series to an expectant fan base.

Rebecca sugar story board