The original idea came from a logo I designed for another course. The mascot, named Kui, was part of that logo. While developing it, I realized this character had potential beyond just branding. Its relaxed, cute pose inspired me to expand the narrative. I began imagining how Kui could move and behave, which naturally led to using it as the core element for my frame-by-frame animation concept.

First, I explored how Kui should look. Since noodles are made from dough, I imagined Kui as a soft, dough-shaped character, simple and charming, similar to Kirby. I sketched several options and selected the most expressive one. Inspired by classic vintage Disney intros featuring early Mickey Mouse, I decided to preserve the raw sketch style in the animation to evoke a nostalgic, hand-drawn charm that fits the character’s playful nature.

I began developing my storyboard to visualize the animation sequence. The story follows Kui as it transforms from a simple dough shape into a lively character. It gradually pops up its eyes and limbs, then gains momentum. The plot builds as Kui runs and leaps into a bowl, mimicking a dive into a swimming pool. This storyboard helped me plan the timing, movement arcs, and expressiveness needed for each frame.

In total, I created nearly 46 individual frames to build the full animation. The most challenging part was balancing clarity and smoothness: too many frames meant more time, while too few risked choppy motion. I constantly previewed the animation, refining the timing to ensure each action was readable and expressive. It required patience and careful adjustment to deliver natural movement and narrative clarity.