Alyssa: “The Princess & the Pea”- The mix of imagery in this page is well done, as is the color palette. The image of the sky flows works well with the landscape and scenery that Alyssa has created, and the color choices seem very smart to me. There aren’t any major contrast issues anywhere that I can see, and the only issue I have has to do with the scrolling. I really like the way the silhouette of the prince follows the viewer as they scroll through the page, I just wish more attention was paid to where things were placed on the page in relation to this. For instance, I see where the intention was to have the prince’s silhouette end up at the altar at the end of the story, but he appears lower on the page. It’s a great idea and overall a great page, I just think shifting some of the visual elements would take it to the next level.
Zachary: “The Greedy Crow”- One of the strongest points of this page is its simplicity. The color palette is small enough so that the viewer doesn’t get lost in the details, yet varied enough to create contrast and emphasis when desired. The images are primarily simple silhouettes, yet their illustrative qualities all convey a sense of fantasy that sets a playful tone for the page. Being that the page is centered around a folktale, I think this tone is perfect. My only issue with it is the size of the site. In my browser, I have to scroll back and forth from side to side as the story unfolds down the page, simply because of how spread-out and large everything is. On one hand, I think this layout helps to maintain the strength of each illustration. On the other, however, I think it makes navigating the page a bit muddier for the viewer.
Rachel: “Rapunzel”- The first thing that struck me with this page is the color choices. The juxtaposition of the greens, blues, and purples at the top give it an almost dream-like quality that fits with theme of folklore. The next thing that I noticed on the page was the incredible variety of textures. Without even reading the story yet, I navigated the entire page, just admiring the different textures and the amount of time that had to have gone into creating them. Above these things, I think the piece of the puzzle that ties the entire thing together visually is Rapunzel’s hair. The way that it descends the entire page gives the whole thing a strong sense of unity that makes it more interesting to the viewer. The use of the brush tool is quite effective here, and I really like the way the well is cleverly used to transition between the different sections of the page.
Milt: “Neriel”- My first impression of this page was simply “Wow”. The hand-illustrated quality of the images is remarkable, and the selective use of color for emphasis (for example, the eye in the fifth frame) is perfect. The layout of the page is very simplistic, which helps to put more focus on the story rather than the navigation. I feel that the page as a whole is very well balanced. The color and typeface of the text is also well-chosen, as it the readability of the entire page is excellent.
Jake: “The Deluge”- This site is displays the perfect balance between complexity and simplicity. All of the visual elements are quite simple and plain, almost to an extent to where I’d say they don’t stand on their own. Although that may sound negative, I find that with this page it draws me further into the world of the story. The images are enough to grab my attention, yet not enough to learn the story from just looking at them. In this way, my heightened curiosity forces me to read the story to gain an understanding of the images. Juxtaposed with this simplicity is also the presence of numerous examples of jquery, which add a very engaging sense of activity to the page. I think Jake’s design has the ability to draw in a large number of viewers in this way.
Laura: “The Grasshopper & the Ant”- I really like the detail contained in each frame of this page. From the individual pieces of the cartoon grasshopper and ants, to the gradients in the sky, and even the use of the brush tool to create the ground, almost everything about the page seems meticulously planned and layed out. One thing I think could have been done better is the length of the page. I appreciate the amount of detail all over the page, but the fact that it’s only three illustrations long seems to rush the story along. The text is presented in large paragraphs as a result, which the average viewer might get annoyed with.
Justin Luteran: “The Story of a Man…..”- As I scroll through this page, I immediately take notice of the style of animation that Justin utilizes. It draws my attention as a viewer, but it reminds me in certain ways of the show South Park. I love South Park, but I think it’s changing the way I interpret this story in ways that weren’t necessarily intended. As I read through it, I can’t help but imagine Eric Cartman as the narrator. I personally find this hilarious, and it keeps me engaged with the page more than some of the others. The only thing I think that needs work is the sizing of the page. It appears as though all of the page’s images are condensed/squished, which I think diminishes some of the page’s strengths.
Ryan: “The White Hare & the Crocodiles”- The amount of detail in this page is staggering. From the very beginning, Ryan shows a mastery of illustration and design techniques. The page has a clear narrative that is not only portrayed by, but is also strengthened by its related imagery. The colors used throughout the page are well-chosen, and come together to create strong emphasis on the subjects. The rhythm created by the waves all along the bottom of the page help to create an overall sense of unity that brings it all together.
Liz: “Why Dogs Chase Foxes”- This page seems like it could be the inside of a children’s book, without question. The illustrations and colors give it a very playful, youthful quality that I can definitely see appealing to young viewers. The page is well balanced visually with illustrations towards the top, and the story’s text at the bottom. The rhythm created by the ebbing and flowing of the river provides a unifying theme for the page. I also really like the typeface chosen for the story’s text, as it is seems like it could have been lifted straight out of a children’s book.
Evan: “Pygmies”- The color choices within this page make its mountain landscape very easy on the eyes, and the style of illustration used really suits the story. The mountains are quite simple shapes, yet do incredibly well in portraying an actual mountain range. I think the text throughout the page is well thought out, and has great readability. I also really like the fact that the page is all neatly contained within my browser (that is, I can read a particular passage and still see its respective illustration without having to resize the window or scroll). My only word of advice would be to lengthen the page a bit, as it seems a tad short. Overall though, I think this page is quite well done.
Latiyfa: “The Tale of Orpheus”- This page is very well arranged, with a clear sense of symmetry and balance right down the center. The illustrations are clean, and use a selection of colors that have good contrast. Latiyfa also has a number of more subtle details that keep the more observant viewer engaged for a long period of time. As I read through the story, I noticed things like the progression (or expiration) of the trees as Orpheus moves closer and closer to Hades. After noticing this detail, I found myself scouring the rest of the page for other subtle, clever aspects. In this way, the page is quite capable of captivating a large number of viewers.
Katie: “Sun, Moon, & Wind”- To describe this page, I would use “Short, sweet, and to the point”. It’s the perfect length to get the point across without being rushed and without taking an eternity to do so. The colors of the text and images are all easily seen against the cool blue background, showing a very careful attention was paid to the page’s color choices. The clear separation between the different frames allows the narrative to progress in a very structured way, and helps to create a sense of rhythm and an emphasis on organization. The footprints along the bottom of the page also allow the viewer to skip ahead to each individual section of the story, giving them the option to navigate the page however they see fit.