Sidewards
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sidewards is a black comedy orientated CGI animated series (shown primarily through the internet as a web animation) with a pilot episode planned for release in the summer of 2007. It is being designed, animated and co-scripted by John S Barnard, creator of the cult animations Testicle Chin Man and The Winner. Both Barnard and his frequent partner of other projects, Graham Heathcliff Pierrepoint, are currently co-writing the first episode, which has since been entitled Tripwire.
A promo film for the series was posted via YouTube in February 2007.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The series will reportedly center around two main characters, Alan Sation, an anthropomorphic dog with a Scottish accent and a day-to-day struggle with vice and Pigeon, an eponymous avian with low social restraint. Both Alan and Pigeon work as detective inspectors for an as-of-yet unnamed police force, whilst struggling to come to terms with their own inner angst and personal turmoils at the same time. Alan will be voiced by Pierrepoint, whilst Pigeon will be portrayed by Barnard.
Each episode will focus on the duo's investigation of a particularly grisly or twisted crime, following their thought processes, leads and expected mishaps. It is not yet known whether they will solve every case they undertake, or whether the criminals will receive ultimate retribution.
The series will be mainly humor-orientated, though will carry a darker, more film noir edge (and reportedly less crass, obscenity-based gags) than Barnard's previous works. The plot and themes within Tripwire are said to be pushing the envelope in terms of what Barnard and Pierrepoint have collaborated on in the past.
[edit] Humor
Barnard and Pierrepoint's humor tends to revolve mainly around the use of phonology within their characters and their dialects, though also retaining frequent nods towards the absurd. The duo's Yorkshire heritage has rubbed off significantly upon previous projects, such as having Americanised voices speaking colloquialisms native to their area (Barnard's central characters of Testicle Chin Man and The Winner both possessed strong Barnsley accents).
Sidewards is reported to be a step backwards in the absurd and a step forward in dark comedy for the pair, wanting to express depth and mystery in both visual and scripting techniques.
[edit] Scheduling
It has been confirmed that Tripwire will initially be available through the internet in the Spring/Summer of 2007, and episodes following that then released in sporadic bursts (a la Barnard's other cartoons). The series will also be considered for a transition to television in the middle of the year.
A series of graphic novels loosely based around the two central characters is also in the pipeline for likely projection in early to mid-2008.
[edit] Episodes
1. 'Tripwire' - Sation and Pigeon embark on solving the grisly assault and murder of an unidentified blind man, only to find that the case will lead them up a road of terminally-ill witnesses, licquorice allsorts and a 15-mile trek in monsoon season... only for Pigeon's extraordinary luck leading them to an intense, interrogative finale.
[edit] Trivia
- Sation's voice is based on that of Glasweigian singer and political commentator Pat Kane.
- Both Sation and Pigeon originated from two completely different projects addressed at one time or another within Barnard's Honours Degree in Computer and Video Game Design.
- Pierrepoint states that there is at least one background gag in every shot of the series.
- Sation was designed specifically to never be seen from the front.
- Other original names for the series included Tripwire, Cauterized, Sation and Pigeon, Darkness and Splinters. The duo nearly went with Splinters until their urge to call the series Sideways (but couldn't due to the prominence of the film Sideways of the same name) became a driving decision.
- Photos of both Pierrepoint and Barnard are depicted via the 'Still at Large' culprit chart to be found within Sation and Pigeon's office - they represent the criminals Eef and t3h l33t3st Tr3v respectively. Other faces include that of colleague Adam Hyman, comic artist and animator Mr. North, Barney the Dinosaur, Dirk Denoyelle and Diana, Princess of Wales.
