This is actually an idea I have considered as an option and I may keep this idea in case things with the scroll do not work out right. At the moment though, the idea is to create something completely different ZUN can take home as a gift that he will come to remember.
Let's get to the explaining about the Scroll Layout.
Please note, that almost everything explained here is a suggestion, and it is open for discussion. Most things are not final and are subject to change while we work together on this project.The scroll's layout will consist of the following: The Title, The Opening, The characters, The closing, the thank you from the fans, and the credits as shown below in this rough sketch in the link.
Scroll LayoutThe title will basically be a logo that will be the introduction to the scroll upon opening.
The opening will serve as an introduction to the what the scroll is and what it is dedicated to. I'm looking to have this translated from English to Japanese if possible for ZUN.
The characters section will serve as the longest and the main part of the scroll. This part will mainly be where the artists will be doing thier main work of the scroll at. Those that are selected will be assigned a character to work with and we will work on these and try to keep in contact with one another as we make progress. There will be sections that will have individual characters and sections that will contain groups of characters put together.
Most artist who will work on single character will mainly mainly need to put thier best effort into thier work and we will try to work on touching up our art as we make contact. Since this will a be a gift from ZUN we need to put our best into each piece, but we also need to keep in mind of how many characters we will do and how much time we will have left. There may be a chance you will be given more characters to work with if you have time.
As you work on the characters keep in mind that I will ask you to provide the following: A colored illustration with clear background in png format that I can put onto the scroll (or something I can easily edit into the layout.) Make sure the piece is 8.5" x 11". The scroll itself will be 11" tall, but will be somewhere between 40-70 feet in length. Also with your complete character I would like it if you could include a signature with your piece (it can be your online alias if you want it to be.)
The characters will be spaced slightly to allow space for the illustration to work in correspondence with the background. The background work will be worked on by a set of artist that I think will will be able to make backgrounds that transcend between one background to another. The reason I also wanted to consider the spacing is to allow for each of the art to work on it own and yet unite with scroll as a whole along with the background.
The background itself I want to consider to be simple, but I'm willing to adjust and add detail to it if it'll function better. Just as long as it works with the scroll as a whole.
The illustration linked below is simply a concept that what I'm considering in terms for singular character section of the scroll and also servers as an example what I am aiming for the scroll.. We can discuss more about the ideas following after go through interviewing everyone and picking who will work on who. (also do note, my sketches are usually VERY ROUGH)
Concept of Singular character sectionGroup character will function in a similar manner as the single character with the exception of one thing. The group character will be taken on in one of two ways depending on how many artist join and how consistent thier art can be with another artist. Group character taken on by either a set of artist that style can work with one another, or by a single artist that is willing to take on a number of characters in the group.
Otherwise, most of what applies to the single characters will also apply here. Below is a concept on one set of characters I'm going to put together in a group
Concept of Group characters sectionThe order the characters will appear will in chronological order in the games, books, and manga. And I will work on the text that will accompany the characters while I work on my own (thier title, thier name, and thier Japanese names)
The closing will conclude comments and thoughts regarding the project and serve as a final word regarding the project. I will also need someoen who can translate it to Japanese.
A word of thanks from the fans will be a section I will dedicate to allowing fans among to community to give a thank you message to give to ZUN. I will also see if I can get a translation of this in Japanese.
Finally Credits, to give credit to where it is due to the artists, and community members that pitch in to help make this project possible.
Once all the character are completed along with the text and background is finished along with final touch ups. I will be looking toward Drunk Aya (who's agreed to help me) to finish up the scroll design by getting the materials to help put together the scroll during it's construction phase.
Now I'm going to get ready to ask questions those who have express interest wanting to participate in the project. As it'll help me toward getting everything ready in terms of who and what responsibilities you will be taking on. I will also use this to determine who will be working on the team.
On another note, I've got a list of artist, that I'm going to go out and contact to see if any wish to join in as well. Also Telsapirate has informed that he will probably be getting to work on the forum for this project in the next few days. So hopefully I will have a forum available for the team as soon as possible. Otherwise, I do have a backup plan in place in case something doesn't work out.
As usual, I wish everyone who want to join in to please come in and express interest as I will looking forward to hopefully work with you on the Scroll Project soon and once we do. I can use this thread to post updates for the community to see as we work on the project.