Kamishibai project

My project is beginning to take shape. I've created a six-panel story using an Ipad app, Toontastic -- it's a free app in which I was able to create characters and save them to a database. I found an Internet source with a list of Japanese fairytales. I chose "The Sea Snail." I drew six scenes relating to the story. Then I animated them and added narration.

Next, I took a piece of white typing paper and folded it into 12 boxes. Using yellow sticky notes, I added scenes to my meager 6-scene story. Traditional Kamishibai are told in 12 panels. The yellow sticky notes will show how I better developed the character of sea snail by showing what he does and what he says. For example, in one scene I show his head growing bigger and bigger and bigger -- crowding out the adoring fish -- until in the next scene his head dominate the frame. Also, I use quotes to show his hubris. He says repeatedly in the elaborated story: "I am amazing. I am strong. Nothing can hurt me." Each time he repeats this refrain his voice will grow more conceited. The final scene will show him on a dinner plate -- big head et al.



I am hoping my students will see the importance of elaboration and what details bring to the story -- not only to the author and the illustrator, but also to the listener or reader. I hope they recognize that six frames did not allow me to develop my character and his problem. Instead I was relegating to telling them that the snail was arrogant. The more elaborated story shows them the extent of the snail's hubris and why that is such an issue.

Meanwhile, Michiko sent me a YouTube video of Saki performing Kamishibai. I am hopeful I can have this translated for myself and my students. I am collecting Internet links relating to my project in my Diigo library.