Tama and the Toxic Taniwha
For several years now Loudmouth has been working on it's own graphic novel, 'Tama and the Toxic Taniwha'. Josh wanted to create a story that is so visually stimulating, that it would challenge kids to get away from the screens of their electronic media and pick up a book. He also wants to give kiwi kids the chance to recognise New Zealand's own unique environment and heritage.Story outline
Tama and his four best mates are fun loving kiwi kids, better known as the Tui Street crew. One day they discovered their beautiful, secluded swimming hole has been contaminated with toxic waste. In an effort to find those responsible, they cross paths with a talking native parrot 'Kaka'. Kaka leads them to the secret underground world of 'Raroa'. There they find the polution above the ground has had far reaching consequences. It has fuelled the return of an evil tyrant, a power hungry taniwha named 'Wero'. To prevent the demise of both worlds, Tama and his mates, assisted by Kaka and the mysterious inhabitants of Raroa, must extinguish the source of the pollution and combat Wero!.
Working Process
After writing the story, the next step is to represent the many characters visually.
Josh has gone through a rather intense sketching process to capture their unique personalities.
Once the look of these characters is achieved, it is on to the job of sketching up the story in its comic book format. Here the characters really take life and the adventure unfolds.
When happy with the flow of the story and the compositon of the page, final artwork commences. Josh is using a combination of photos, lighting effects and painting to create realistic backgrounds. The evil Taniwha "Wero" is also painted in a highly detailed and realsitic way. The more traditonal 2d characters stand out in dynamic contrast.
Combined, it all builds rich and vivid imagery .
Tama and his four best mates are fun loving kiwi kids, better known as the Tui Street crew. One day they discovered their beautiful, secluded swimming hole has been contaminated with toxic waste. In an effort to find those responsible, they cross paths with a talking native parrot 'Kaka'. Kaka leads them to the secret underground world of 'Raroa'. There they find the polution above the ground has had far reaching consequences. It has fuelled the return of an evil tyrant, a power hungry taniwha named 'Wero'. To prevent the demise of both worlds, Tama and his mates, assisted by Kaka and the mysterious inhabitants of Raroa, must extinguish the source of the pollution and combat Wero!.
Working Process
After writing the story, the next step is to represent the many characters visually.
Josh has gone through a rather intense sketching process to capture their unique personalities.
Once the look of these characters is achieved, it is on to the job of sketching up the story in its comic book format. Here the characters really take life and the adventure unfolds.
When happy with the flow of the story and the compositon of the page, final artwork commences. Josh is using a combination of photos, lighting effects and painting to create realistic backgrounds. The evil Taniwha "Wero" is also painted in a highly detailed and realsitic way. The more traditonal 2d characters stand out in dynamic contrast.
Combined, it all builds rich and vivid imagery .
