RESEARCH

The Firefly Princess Research

For my final major project, I have decided to illustrate the Japanese folktale 'The Firefly's Lovers', and by the end of the project I aim to have a completed Kickstarter page for the funding of a fully illustrated book of the story.

I have broken down the story into 3 main settings, these being the castle moat, the lotus flower, and the houses in which the bugs attempt to steal flames from candles etc. I have put together visual research on these 3 locations, looking at not only photographs but also depictions in art.

I have also put together a board of personal inspiration, I feel really inspired by features from these artworks such as composition and use of colour.

Target Audience:

The target audience for my book is children aged 8-11. My story has a larger amount of text than typical younger children's books, so it would suit older children better. While most children grow out of picture books as they get older, I want my picture book to be for children who still have an interest in art, may become a fan of other visual narratives such as comic books and graphic novels in the future, and who may even consider following the path of illustration when they are older. The book would be suited for children who enjoy fairytales, and introduce them to the world of Japanese fairytales.

Below are some books that I would like my picture book to sit next to on a shelf:

Issun Boshi Picture Book:

This book has illustrated the Japanese tale of a one inch boy named Issun Boshi. It uses a limited colour palette but is still effective, and it's interesting to see how the illustrators have adapted a traditional Japanese folktale to their illustrative style. The dimensions of the book are particularly interesting, the book is much longer than an average picture book. I think the dimensions of the book highlight the size difference between Issun Boshi and everything around him.

Leaf Picture Book:

I really like the dimensions for this picture book, and I think I am going to base the dimensions for my own book off of them. The height of the book is 23cm, the width 27cm, and the spine is about 1cm thick. I really love the clothbound detail on the spine of the book, and i'd like to see if it's something I could do with my own. I also like the use of patterned endpapers, which is something I would also like to do. In terms of the actual illustrations, i like the amount of detail that the artist puts into them.

The Journey Picture Book:

This book is another good example of what I want the dimensions of my book to be like.

Greek Myths Picture Book:

I really like the art style of this book, and how even though there is a substantial amount of text, the illustrations still really shine through. I think this book is a good example of how to integrate blank space into the illustrations for the text to be placed, which is something i want to consider carefully.

Bandoola The Great Elephant Rescue Picture Book:

Kickstarters:

Since I want my project to result in a Kickstarter, it's important to research what makes a successful one, what elements they include, tiers etc.

What Makes a Successful Kickstarter?
- Know your audience and how to talk to them, make them feel like a part of the project
- Show progress, backers like to know that there is a clear vision with an intent behind it, not just an idea in a notebook
- Have opportunities to support a lot or just a small pledge
- Pay attention to: Kickstarter page layouts, videos, rewards, updates, goals, stretch goals, bonuses, headlines, marketing

This is a successful kickstarter for a folklore book, which gained over £33,000 in support. This one has successful elements such as:
- Good visual layout, well suited illustrations and typography, shows personality.
- Range of tiers, ranges from £10 to £270.
- Lots of information.
- Good amount of updates to keep the audience engaged.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/folklorebook/folklore-tales-of-these-isles/description

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elizagregory/the-tale-of-princess-kaguya-illustrated-edition/description

Book Sizing, Cover details, e.t.c:

I have based the size of my book off of Leaf, which has a width of 27cm, height of 23cm, and a spine of approximately 1cm. Some details I want for the cover include a clothbound spine, but a matt printed cover on top of the rest of the front and back cover, like in the image above. These ideas did not seem possible through mixam, so I have found another print company and emailed them with my ideas. Once I know what's possible and what's not possible to do, I will be able to get a better idea of pricing e.t.c.