Summary
- Telling a story that expresses the power of community.
- A level of reality juxtaposed with surreal protagonists
- Finding beauty in the unexpected.
The challenge of merging different worlds
The basic idea of Frank and Drake was to depict how our unique, diverse identities can find a common ground of understanding through different levels of communication and empathy. This principle applies to the characters themselves and their non-contact relationship, but goes beyond that. Almost unconsciously it affected all levels of development, with a special atmosphere through the use of mixed arts.
Art and animation: a collage of harmonious styles
The world of Oriole City is presented primarily through illustrated backgrounds that depict accurate yet stylized architecture, in which nothing is distorted or disproportionate. Our lead artist, Romina Correa, defined this level of “reality” with her style in contrast to the rotoscoped protagonists living within the spectrum of surrealism. But also other instances of the game show other techniques, like e.g. B. rough pencils in black and white (flashbacks), pen drawings (diary sketches), stencils and graffiti (street walls), and even imitations of oil paintings (certain murals). Locations). Collaborating with not only diverse but eclectic artists allowed us to create this visual melting pot within the confines of lore.
This multidisciplinary creative approach also had an impact on the moving images. The rotoscoped animations stand out for obvious reasons (and are the most time-consuming, with over 8,000 frames drawn!), but there are plenty of other frame-by-frame animations with no footage for reference to support the narration, and even 3D models, very handy for complex rotations or interactions .
Music: the rhythm of light and darkness
We knew Kai Engel well from his work on the soundtrack of our last gaming stay. The goal inside Frank and Drake The goal was not only to provide a unique setting, day or night, but also to represent the way both characters experience their reality. The juxtaposition of Frank’s hip-hop rhythms with Drake’s jazzy vibes creates a beautiful contrast that will help you navigate between the characters and fully feel the emotional impact of both stories.
Narration: Two voices, one big secret
Creating a story with two protagonists was a new challenge for our writer and narrative designer Ana Monteiro. To make it work, a few rules had to be followed: Define unique voices with respective personalities and perspectives, so they don’t react immediately to conflicts. They also needed character arcs that reveal a change in beliefs and behaviors as evidence of personal growth. And all of these internal conflicts had to meet an external conspiracy that would eventually conflate their destinies.
Ultimately, Frank and Drake tells a story that expresses the power of community: how a strange (and often bizarre) place like Oriole City can become home to many people who are usually labeled as society’s outsiders, and where the diversity of realities coexists respectfully. Where beauty is found in the unexpected and differences are accepted in a supportive, collaborative way. We’ve tried to keep that very essence by combining multiple art forms throughout the game. The goal was not to strive for perfection individually, but to find a coherent nature in the sum of this honest, fragmented identity.
We hope you enjoy discovering the history of Frank and Drake.
