My story for Azrielle was hatched a long while ago, it wasn't until my AN300 Pre-Production Techniques Class in fall 2010 that I was able to flesh out my idea to the point you could see the story visually. We took our storyboards, added tonal values and created our animatics which were supposed to tell a short story. I however took this opportunity to tell a very critical portion of Azrielle's story line.
Intro…
This is the story of a girl, the reluctant princess Azrielle and her journeys in a faraway land and time. A tale of dreams, heart and hope, conviction, treachery, love, redemption and fighting for what you believe in. Her life in a kingdom where the traditions and laws have never been challenged. Through Azrielle's journeys mindsets will be bent, broken and reshaped and remade. A time when The Balance of Order and Peace is on the brink of collapse, and the world will soon be in desperate need of a leader like none other before. One will arise and challenge everything that the world and tradition believes.
Azrielle…
From an early age Azrielle knew she wanted to be something more than just a princess. She was a rough and tumble girl and also as stubborn and strong willed as they come, Azrielle didn’t mind playing out in the dirt, and wrestling with the servant’s boys. Azrielle always had dreams and fantasies of wielding a swords and armor running through her mind, fighting alongside her battalions as a fighter and leader. She vividly imagined training with the Warriors out in the fields and joining them in battle as she would act out pretend battles any chance she was alone. Of course this is not typical or “proper princess” behavior and most certainly not by her parents eyes. Azrielle was always able to think of a way out of any activity she felt as too confining, the idea of being a traditional princess just disgusted her. She had in her mind an idealized future where anyone boy or girl, man or woman be treated as equal and every citizen would be allowed to perform any duty so long as they performed admirably and in service of the kingdom. Azrielle spoke her mind “Why do I have to dress up for this? It's pointless you know! I'm not your little Princess!” and "I will NOT!!" htis of course doesnt sit well with any parent. Often punished and sent to her room the chastisement fueled Azrielle’s fire and provided her with means of escape both figuratively and literally.Enough…
The Escape…
After her fathers cold and rigid words Azrielle runs off in a whirlwind of emotion. So angry was Azrielle that this time she vowed herself she would not be denied her true convictions. She must follow her heart and her convictions. Azrielle sets out to prove her father and everyone else wrong as she makes her escape. Her heart is set on the fields and camps where The Guard trains as she plans to watch and learn from a distance. Out of the window she climbs, down to the courtyard and through the town streets as she finds her exit, a drain leading outside kingdom walls this drain she spotted days ago while she while out in the market.Once outside the gates she makes her way across an empty field towards the tree line. Azrielle is now alone with her thoughts and her emotions, wandering through the woods and as sundown approaches and the sky grows dim, she quickens her pace. She must know the location of the fields before the opportunity passes her by. Azrielle is running faster than she has ever before dodging trees and bushes, when she unexpectedly stubles and comes crashing down. Tripped up by a large stone she grimmaces in pain, slow to rise she pauses. She hears sounds just beyond thebushline, voices. Voices of men and the sounds of metal clashing and yelling. These are the battlecries of The Guard, Azrielle has found her way.
