Magellanic Clouds| Create a Mascot
Create a Mascot
Project Gemini
Summary
This project intends to be taken as a base to teach children about astronomy in an easy way. The youth is usually interested in media which has a proper story to it, as well as something they can relate to. Our purpose is to be able to go through many barriers that prevent children from learning, such as distractions or getting bored, making it quick-paced, attractive and easily relatable. Following the story of two alien twins, Artemis and Apollo, who met a weird creature that claims to be something called a "human" named Ciel, will get to learn both about the space, Ciel's home and about getting along with each other despite their differences.
How I Addressed This Challenge
This project's intention is to help children understand and be interested in astronomy, as well as facing other problematics such as discrimination or how to face misunderstandings. This project will work either as an animated series, shorts or comics, due to the importance of communication between characters. Asuming this project leads to an animated series, the project will explain one or a group of concepts related to astronomy, with the episode's story and problem being centered on them and how the group teams up to solve it. The team presents different personalities which will overlap, complement or collide with each other when solving a problem. This intends to teach children that it's normal for people to disagree, that a misunderstanding does not mean a friendship ending and the importance of teamwork. The mascots intend to show union and friendship as a message, with all characters trying to help each other and understanding each other's life and context, thus learning that despite being from far away, they're really similar in the end.
How I Developed This Project
My main inspiration for this project was, honestly, my own childhood. At the age of 8, the idea of astronomy fascinated me after my mother got me a children astronomy book called "The history of Astronomy and Space". I want younger people to feel as interested as I was at that age, and I know audiovisuals are the right path to go. Animation, just like games or books, can portray a story and teach different things at the same time: Scientific knowledge, morals and how to deal with many normal situations. Inspired on several cartoons, such as Spongebob, My Little Pony, Steven Universe and Dora the Explorer, this project aims to be as educative and entertaining possible. First thing considered was how children would get interested on what the mascots have to show, and that's the reason why 3 mascots were chosen instead of one. Dialogue gives some sort of "back and forth" that a mascot simply speaking to the viewer does not give. The mascots interacting with each other can help children learn in a more entertaining way than leaving them watching a simplified documental. All mascots have different personalities and demeanor, which contrast, cooperate or overlap each other in order to help children understand that different people are different, and that's something good.
The age demographic intended is between 4 and 12, although it's planned to be enjoyed by all ages.
The biggest problem when designing were, of course, the designs. Triangle shapes were used for the aliens, as well as rectangles, to make them contrast with Ciel's circles and curve lines. Rounder facial features intend to make them seem friendlier.
How I Used Space Agency Data in This Project
Data used was mostly applied on designs. Ciel's spacesuit, for instance, highly resembles the Orion Crew Survival System (OCSS). NASA's image gallery (https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/index.html) highly helped when seeing NASA's headquarters, how they seem to be and the message intended to be shown.
Project Demo
https://www.flipsnack.com/AnoniK/project-gemini.html
Data & Resources
Orion Crew Survival System (2016) https://images.nasa.gov/details-NHQ201910150020
NASA headquarter photo gallery https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/