Heidi Marie Smith: December 2012

ParaNorman

I was the Character Designer for ParaNorman. In 2013, I won the 2012 Annie Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Character Design in a Feature Production. I designed the entire ParaNorman lineup for the main characters, the background characters, and the lineup for the zombies and ghosts. I also contributed conceptual art for the overall look of the film including: backgrounds, vehicles, props and costume art.

The main character Norman Babcock was based from my CalArts instructor, Norman Klein.

Here we are at Gallery Nucleus for the book signing of The Art and Making of ParaNorman.

Norman Babcock

I made several early drawings for Norman, but this is the sketch that the Director Chris Butler chose for him, and his design was based from Norman Klein.

I worked with the legendary sculptor, Kent Melton, who sculpted directly from my concept drawings.

Here is my concept drawing of Norman Babcock and my concept for his wardrobe along with Kent Melton's beautiful sculpt

Norman Babcock with a Zombie toy along with some costume concept drawings for his zombie slippers, shoes and backpack.

Zombie poster

Concept drawing for a Zombie poster

medium: charcoal pencil and pastel

Here is my concept drawing for Norman's dad, and some drawings for his car, along with Kent's sculpt

My inspiration for Norman's grandma was based from my own grandmother. I had the opportunity to actually show my sketches of Norman's grandma to my own grandmother while she was in hospice before she passed away, and when she saw them, she said in a weak but excited voice, " That's me!"

Here is my sketch of Norman's grandma along with Kent Melton's sculpt.

Here is my concept drawing for Norman's mom with Kent's sculpt

My concept drawing for Courtney Babcock and Kent's amazing sculpt

Here is my concept drawing for Mitch Downe, and some drawings for his van, along with Kent Melton's sculpt

Here is my concept drawing for Neil Downe, and Kent's sculpt

My concept drawing for Alvin and Kent's sculpt

My concept drawing for Sheriff Hooper, the lady cop and Kent Melton's amazing sculpt

My concept drawing for Mrs. Henscher and Kent's sculpt

A full line up

My inspiration for Mr. Prenderghast was based from Tevye from the film, Fiddler on the Roof.

Here are my concept drawings for Mr. Prenderghast and Kent's sculpt

Mr. Prenderghast concept

medium: charcoal pencil and pastel

My concept drawings for Mr. Prenderghast's house and costume including the beaver logo for his hat.

My concept drawing for Aggie Prenderghast, and her angry ghost and Kent's sculpt

The Director Chris Butler asked me to come up with some concepts for Aggie's angry ghost, and my inspiration for her was based from myself and from my brother's plasma lamp that he had when I was a child.

For Aggie's tree, I thought it would have been an interesting concept if the tree bark appeared as if it were zombie hands coming from below.

I made some concept drawings for Aggie Prenderghast's or the Witch's curse in the sky. My inspiration for this concept came from the tremendous scene that takes place on the ship during the storm in the film, Bram Stoker's Dracula, when the transformation from Dracula to beast takes place.

One of my most favorite films is Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 film Bram Stoker's Dracula, and the old manifestation of Dracula was my inspiration for Judge Hopkins