++||As the title states, this is the UNCUT storyboard, and it is by no means FINALIZED. A lot of what is here will likely be changed in future!||++

Based on feedback from my professors, peers, and some critique here on DA, I went back and re-worked a LOT of the original storyboard. The key issue I worked on this time was exaggerating what each character represents, as all the deeper meaning and extra thought and research I did for the characters on their profile sheets, etc. wasn't clear in the previous versions.

Santiago represents Religion: his introduction at the pier was extended to include a scene wherein we get a clear shot of the priests and the Spanish inquisitors. The fort is not only a fort this time, too, but also a cathedral, and I attempted show through his behavior that he is frantically devout, such as his unwillingness to destroy a religious object (the cross) which Louis can exploit to his advantage.

James represents Government: every second word that comes out of his mouth has to do with king or county, and how he won't let some other nationality take the prize. He is proud of his country, too, so the British flag gets bigger and bigger with every rendition of the storyboard, and will likely get even bigger in the final animation, since it's all about exaggeration. On top of it all, because he represents law and order, he is so strictly by-the-book that he is unwilling to behave dishonorably, even if it might mean getting the advantage over Louis.

Louis represents Liberal Thinking: Unlike the other two, who primarily use strength or weaponry to solve their problems, Louis has a different approach to every conflict thrown at him throughout the animation. Instead of giving him a sword from the start, he now uses his flexibility to outwit and outmaneuver both Santiago and James, because they are so unwilling to bend the rules of their respective philosophies. However, I also added an element of religion to Louis himself, as would have been historically accurate. However, he is willing to compromise whereas Santiago is not, which allows him to overtake the other.

It was also important to include a "turning point" in the storyline, wherein one or both of the other characters realize that Louis isn't as foppish and dandy as they were first led to believe - this links back to my very first concept, that someone's looks or sexual orientation is no basis for judging them by. I attempted to achieve this through Louis's final showdown with Santiago. Though it's something as "girlish" as his hair getting cut that triggers his sudden blowout, Louis demonstrates through his sudden violence that is definitely not someone to be messed with, and is capable of the same destruction as James or Santiago.

The ending will likely be tweaked again, as I'm not satisfied with it at all. It seems cheap, forced, and out of place compared to the rest of the thought-out conflicts and processes throughout the film at this point. Additionally, the final animation should only be about three minutes long, especially considering I am a one-man group (animating three characters at twelve frames per second for fifteen weeks in full outline and color with fight sequences and backgrounds ...) so come the start of next year A LOT of what is here now will be cut down and thrown away, leaving only the bare bones.

Still, I thought it was due time for an update, for those interested in my thought processes.

((My thanks to for the suggestion for the "bonus scene" after the credits with James fixing the painting. In all likelyhood I will not be able to include it in the final animation, but I liked the idea a lot.))

------
Previous storyboards for this project:



--Sak
All characters, stories, and images © Myself, Shamine A. King
For LASALLE, College of the Arts, Singapore