Littlenobody FABLES | Preproduction Planning – Scale & Character reference – LUMA | Black Cat

Character reference sheets.

Sketch to figure out how the hind legs bend back into the body and floating scapular.

Armature to scale with basic wires, milliput shoulder blades and pelvis and foam rib cage with probably a foam, tin foil covered, then air dry clay skull. I think I’m then going to sculpt in clay for Luma’s cat face. Wooden beads painted for eyes possibly. A Jasper red heart just because. Fur suit with clay sculpted, silicon moulded claws and pads. Possible air dry clay hard hard.

CHAT had a lot to say about the blog post, heres their input –

The second character reference developed for Littlenobody FABLES is LUMA, a black cat whose appearance and personality provide a visual and emotional counterbalance to ODIN.

As with all characters in the project, the armature build serves as a foundation for future AI-generated imagery and animation.

Designing LUMA

Cats have long held symbolic roles within folklore, mythology, and storytelling traditions. Their independence, curiosity, and mystery make them ideal characters for fable-based narratives.

LUMA was developed to embody these qualities while maintaining a design that feels approachable and expressive.

Scale and Proportion Planning

A significant part of the preproduction process involves defining character relationships through scale.

The armature reference establishes:

• Relative size compared with ODIN
• Body proportions and posture
• Movement characteristics
• Scene composition requirements

These references help create visual consistency across future animation sequences.

Visual Characteristics

LUMA’s design focuses on:

• Elegant body proportions
• Alert posture
• Expressive eyes and facial features
• A silhouette that remains recognisable from multiple angles

These characteristics help communicate personality even before animation or dialogue is introduced.

Narrative Function

Within Littlenobody FABLES, LUMA represents observation, curiosity, and intuition. These traits complement ODIN’s more grounded and direct nature, creating opportunities for contrast, conflict, and emotional growth within the story.

Building the Character Library

Each completed armature expands the project’s visual reference library and provides additional material for prompt development and animation planning.

As the cast grows, these references become increasingly important for maintaining consistency throughout production.

Conclusion

LUMA brings a different energy to the world of Littlenobody FABLES. Through careful planning of scale, silhouette, and character traits, the project continues to build a strong foundation for a short animated film inspired by the timeless traditions of fables and morality tales.