Production notes

Every story starts as a cast and a setting. Those are drawn once, then used as reference for every picture in the story, so the characters stay themselves from beginning to end.

The cast

Model sheet for Bryn — **Bryn** the wise owl

an owl with mottled brown and cream feathers, large round amber eyes, perched on a twisted oak branch, feathers fluffed slightly

Sounds deep and calm.

Model sheet for Cadi — **Cadi** a curious squirrel

a small red squirrel with bright eyes, bushy tail curved over its back, wearing a tiny green leaf as a hat

Sounds quick and lively.

Model sheet for Efan — **Efan** the cautious fox

a slender fox with russet-orange fur, pointed ears, white-tipped tail, wearing a blue scarf

Sounds soft and thoughtful.

Model sheet for Meri — **Meri** a playful badger

a robust badger with contrasting black and white striped face, stocky build, muddy paws, a sprig of mistletoe tucked behind one ear

Sounds gruff but gentle.

The setting

Background painting of A sun-dappled ancient forest where four animals share their stories. — **A sun-dappled ancient forest where four animals share their stories.**

A dense, ancient forest bathed in dappled sunlight filtering through lush green leaves; towering oaks and whispering pines create a layered canopy, while soft moss carpets the forest floor in rich emerald tones. Occasional bursts of wildflowers add splashes of colour. The air is fresh and alive with the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves.

emerald green earthy brown sky blue sunlit gold

The plan

Bryn, Cadi, Efan, a Meri yn ymgasglu mewn golau haul y goedwig honedig i rannu straeon.

calm and warm wide establishing shot Bryn, Cadi, Efan, Meri
Mae Cadi'n darganfod llinyn dirgel yn rhedeg drwy'r goedwig sydd heb ei nodi yn rhuban y coed.

curious and tense medium shot Cadi, Efan, Meri, Bryn
Mae'r anifeiliaid yn ceisio dilyn y llinyn ond yn cael eu gafael gan rwyd aneglur sy'n eu rhwystro.

worried and confused close-up Bryn, Cadi, Efan, Meri
Gyda llawenydd a doethineb Bryn, maent yn datgelu bod y llinyn yn rhannin sylweddol o hanes y goedwig a'i diwylliant.

relieved and enlightened medium shot Bryn, Cadi, Efan, Meri
Yn fuan wedyn, mae'r pedwar anifail yn rhannu eu straeon eu hunain wrth y llinyn i gadw atgofion y goedwig yn fyw.

peaceful and bonding long shot Bryn, Cadi, Efan, Meri

How it was made

Pictures drawn: 11
Words written: 1657
Generation steps: 19
Time to make: 5 min

Drawn in watercolour. Written in Welsh at level , for family readers.

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