[PRE-PRODUCTION] Film Treatment

Film Title:

When Dreams Became Data

Logline:

An animator in the 1920s creates a new cartoon character known as Max the Cat who comes alive, after the animator dies we fast forward 95 years and a new animator enters the scene, he creates a new cartoon character known as May the Cat and the two cat's fall in love, however can the two meet when Max is constrained to paper and May is constrained to the computer?

Synopsis:

The year is 1920, and an old, retired animator picks up his pencil once again to produce a new cartoon character, Max the Cat. Max springs to life once completed and the two form a strong bond, years go by and inevitably, the old man dies, leaving Max alone in the room he was created. Move forward 95 years and the room is disturbed by a young animator, who produces a new cartoon character, May the Cat. The two cats notice each other and soon enough form a young love, however, can two cartoon characters stuck in their drawn medium ever meet? Can the two be together, or will their love end in tragedy?

Technical Information:

Certification: U

Genre: Romance, Fantasy

Animated medium: Traditionally hand-drawn, 2D digitally drawn

Aspect ratio: 16:9

Resolution: 1080 x 1920

Main Characters:

Max the Cat

May the Cat

The Young Animator

The Old Animator

Plot:

Act one: The year is 1920, and an old animator enters the animation room and sits down at his desk, he begins to draw onto some animation paper sitting on a light-box, once finished he is left with a cat character; Max the Cat. He puts the animation paper onto the wall and Max begins to move around, the old animator laughs at Max and exits the room, we fast forward through time until the old animator dies, leaving the room dark and quiet and Max waiting for him to return, but he never does.

Act two: The year is now 2016, and the room has not been touched since the animator passed away. the silence is disturbed by a young looking animator who enters the room and begins to set up his laptop, animation tablet and projector on the table where the light-box used to sit. Curiously, Max watches as the young animator begins to draw a character using the new technology. The young animator sets down his pen and exits the room, meanwhile, Max tries to see what the young animator has drawn, he sees a full coloured cat drawing; May the Cat. The two look at each other and Max begins to try and make May laugh, he fails the first time but using the principles of animation he makes her giggle. The two begin to fall in love, however they cannot be with each other as they are limited to the mediums they were drawn in.

The young animator enters the room again, closes the animation tab, sets up the projector and begins to watch a film. We fast forward to the end of the film and the young animator is fast asleep, once the credits finish rolling the animation tab re-opens and May is left projected onto the wall. Max notices and runs across the room to finally meet her, he offers her a hand and she accepts, and the two are left holding hands.

Act three: Morning comes and the young animator wakes up, he realizes he has over slept and rushes out of the door, leaving everything still running. Once the door shuts it is revealed that the two are still holding hands, while Max is on a piece of paper and May is still on the computer, but however projected next to Max the Cat. Both of them are smiling and the film comes to an end.