Story Portfolio / 2021

Based on a basic outlined Script, I was tasked with boarding out a sequence that had to end this ‘It’s Pony’ short with a bit of a twist reveal. The shorts were intended as a way to really lean into the joy and cartoon fun of the Pony world. The entire sequence where we show how Pony actually ended up ingesting the Teeth Dentures was not detailed at all in the script, and was left completley to myself as the board artist to find an enjoyable, unexpected and (somehwhat) logical solution!

I thought ‘Rube Goldberg’ would be a good starting off point – kicking off by thinking “let’s see what fun we can have with this, in what otherwise could be, a basic A > B gag”.

I boarded the entire short myself, from prep to clean-up.

Based off of a script, each episode of ‘It’s Pony’ is boarded out over several versions, where I try and hone in on and craft the elements of the story and character moments.
I’ll add gag ideas, try and push and enhance the entertainment of the scene – which can include coming up with ideas to help pacing and intensity if it’s an action scene (like this one above), figuring out the best way to put the audience ‘in’ with the characters in emotional moments, or figuring out how to make the shot and scene as appealing as it can from a comedic standpoint.

For this one, I wanted to represent the imagination of Pony playing as vividly as possible, inspired by his love of ‘Hero Horse’ and it’s slight anime-influenced action (of course with a ‘Pony’ spin!)

Because the show is really focused on the characters, and the bond they have – it was really up my street in terms of the type of moments I like to try and establish in storytelling for TV. I love all that stuff, and had such a blast working on bringing that out in the most entertaining way we could possibly do.

Here, because our show is so focussed on character first and foremost, I was able to delve into the connection Annie and Pony have, which is manifested physically when they are forced to be apart due to a school rules that Class Pet’s need to abide by (…you’ll have to watch the entire ep to find out just how Pony wangled is way into being Class Pet! I will say though, it was mostly to do with how he hates being a part from Annie, even when he’s not allowed on School grounds. The rest, well – that’s typical Pony silly business!)

A race against time finale is always fun to board. Here, Pony’s personal forever-nemesis – Dog (the next-door neighbour’s duplicitous lil’ pooch) has concocted a plan so devious you’ll have to watch the full episode to see the depths this dog will go to!

Ok, he mostly pretends to be the nicest dog in the world to make everyone, even Pony, think he’s changed – until Pony’s guard is down for the first time. It’s then, his true plan is revealed. A giant tomato true plan. Can Annie get there in time to save her best friend? That’s the fun of the sequence, boarding in the tension in the build-up, whilst playing across from Pony’s nativity.

Although it ended up being cut for time in the final edit of Haircut (no pun intended!), I really enjoyed figuring out a fun way to show everything we needed to get across in this short montage sequence of Annie’s desperate attempts to get a much-needed Haircut with Pony in tow.

There was no script for this, I was simply tasked at coming up with a fun way to get us from A to B in the plot, within a certain timeframe, and within a lot of strict scope remits. The challenge to hone in on the fun and entertainment in a segment like this, whilst working within a quite well-defined box, is one of the many things I personally enjoy with storyboarding.

We’re back in Teacher’s Pet town, and things are getting wild! Annie and Pony have found themselves backed into a corner, chased and almost caught.

Action sequences are always best boarded with the emotional core at the front and centre. As always, character driven drama delivers more because it has meaning behind it that an audience can get behind, feels what the characters are feeling. Annie doesn’t want to give up her best friend, and will protect to the very end. Can she get them out, from the Terminator-like Henrietta, power-mad from her Hall Monitor role – and the pet-crazed Beatrice, who wants the ultimate pet at all costs.

I really enjoyed boarding this one, with an extremely tight deadline. I even managed to sneak in a ‘Shawkshank’ reference too – which in my book, is always a win!

Annie has stage fright. She feels she’s been backed into a corner and thrust on stage to perform a simply terrible magic trick. Pony seems to like it though. He says “it’s all about the performance”. Pony brings the razzmatazz to save the day.

It was fun bringing out the extrovert and joy in Pony’s nature, and what it brings. He always wants to help (although, often times, it backfires) – and here we got to show him doing that in his unique way.

This sequence had to be completed very quickly, as scheduling wise we had very little time. We also could only show certain angles of the stage, due to strict scope limitations. So I focused on making the shots as fun as possible within that, hopefully getting the sense of the audience (us watching), through the audience’s (in show watching Pony and Annie perform) growing appreciation to the ‘showmanship’ of the Pony encouraged double act. As always – I did that by thinking of character first.

Based on a basic outlined Script, I was tasked with boarding out a sequence that had to establish some key plot points going forward, whilst keeping the whole thing well paced and entertaining

I saw this as a great opportunity to try and showcase the differing characters of Boss Baby and his older brother, and how in competition – they approach and react completley differently, despite often trying for the same goal. It’s the fun in contrast that is often great to to board in escalating conflict, as the pace and beats quicken – the contrast is highlighted more and more.

Based on a simple outline “The Carson’s are at Bumpington Public Pool on a hot summer’s day. Cory wants to jump off the diving boards, but finds it harder than he thought“, I was able to explore all the fun and fear of a big pool and a big diving board for a young, corrigible kid – as well as how the exuberance of youth can play out with the family dynamic watching on (The ‘folks want to encourage Cory and see him have fun – but within reason. Ideally, keep him ‘grounded’ – if not literally, at least figuratively!)

I tried to capture the fun nature of the day, whilst teaching younger children the value of numbers when applied to height.
And as always with my work – I loved throwing in lots of background gags, bits, and anecdotes relevant to the little world of cars that they exist in. Hey, when you know what you like, you know what you like doing 😉

I wanted to try and capture the subtle dynamics and nuances of communication that go on between two people beyond speaking to one another. Which led me to the idea of the ‘New Kid‘.

The ‘New Kid‘ is Josh, a shy young boy who is very insular due to the internal turmoil going on within himself after his Parent’s recently divorced.
His mother’s new BF – the proverbial ‘New Kid‘ on the block – Rick, struggles to connect with a person and situation that is entirely new to what he is used to in his more familiar Bach-pad existence.
Despite his constant fish-out-of-water sweats though, he genuinely likes Josh’s mother – and so sincerely wants to try his best to connect with her son.
When Josh’s mother has a work emergency and Rick agrees to look after Josh for the day – Perhaps their first day together with just the two of them will lead to a chance to connect.

Or not…