Week 7 Play and Object

Umbrella

Context

Tsukumogami 付喪神 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGiF9FmYAUk

In Japanese lore, Tsukumogami is an object that may acquire a soul after 100 years. These objects are often tools and useful item that are treasured by their owner. The Tsukumogami could be anything. Relics and items might become haunted and some kinds of power.

The test is about a soul from an umbrella that has the power of the control of the weather. Opening the umbrella leads to raining while closing it leads to the sunny. 

Method

I draw the umbrella animation in TVPainting and export the sprite sheet to unity. In Unity, I use a slider to control the animation. The animation is normalized by the slider. And then set the slider invisible and attach on the umbrella. So when the player clicks and drags the umbrella’s handle up or down, the umbrella opens or closes. If the value approximately close to the maximum, the rain particle system will enable. Vice versa.

Response 

I like to explore the utility of a normal object but has an abnormal function. When people find an umbrella in the garden, they would click and try to interact with the umbrella. Most of them would be surprised by the unexpected raining when they open the umbrella, but they would still think it’s reasonable.

Reflection

An Object could contain more information and emotion than its common meaning. The story behind an object could be conveyed by the way of using it. I think Play and Object are to play the uncommon sense of the object, which means the object can be something that relates to the object or completely different. This kind of unexpected object usage would bring surprise.