THE LAST KNIGHT TEMPLAR: JEAN LeBLANC
Character Design, Storyboard, Animation and AR
Fall 2022
Course: Hypercinema
Instructor: Gabe Colombo
Partners: Junru Chen, Miaoye Que
Character Design
Name: Jean LeBlanc
Born: 1 January 1244 | Jerusalem
Died: 15 April 1319 | Paris (aged 75)
LeBlanc was born in Jerusalem in 1244, during the aftermath of the Sixth Crusade when the Knights Templar began to decline. In the same year, the Egyptians recaptured Jerusalem, making LeBlanc the last Knight Templar physically born in the city.
As a Knight Templar, LeBlanc received a rigorous education encompassing military and combat skills, as well as diverse subjects such as religion, history, politics, health and well-being, finance, mathematics, architecture, diplomacy, and philosophy. He was trained to uphold chivalry in all situations, and this education shaped him into a kind-hearted man. Despite participating in several wars in Syria, LeBlanc always assisted victims and local peasants in whatever small ways he could.
LeBlanc was constantly accompanied by three things: a sword and shield crafted from Damascus Steel, and a Great Horse named Michel. In 1291, after the Knights Templar lost their land in Akko, Israel, LeBlanc lost his left arm and his horse. Although he survived the war, his ability to battle was forever lost. That same year, just before Christmas, he decided to return to France, his family's and team's place of origin.
Despite the losses suffered in the war, LeBlanc continued to be highly respected in Europe, especially in his true hometown, Paris. As one of the leaders of the Knights Templar, LeBlanc owned extensive gold, lands, and castles. From 1292, upon his return home, to 1307, he consistently helped those in need. According to some local peasants, LeBlanc was secretly known as "the most charitable person in Paris." He also became one of the biggest donors to the Cathedral of Notre Dame, completed later in 1345.
However, at dawn on Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV issued an order to simultaneously arrest all the Knights Templar in France. The arrest warrant began with the words: "God is not pleased. We have enemies of the faith in the kingdom." The reason behind the arrest was the king's deep indebtedness to the Templars, which he could not repay.
LeBlanc spent 12 years in prison, enduring relentless torture by the prison watchmen. On April 15, 1319, Jean LeBlanc was sentenced to be burned to death by the king.
700 years later, on April 15, 2019, a fire broke out in the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. Jean LeBlanc revived...
Storyboard
We decided to introduce some cubist style into the character’s front and side views, inspired by early 20th-century art movements.
Above are a series of storyboards. At the moment, there are four major scenes:
The camera zooms in on one of the headlines from The New York Times’ April 16, 2019, newspaper, which is about the fire that occurred at Notre Dame de Paris on April 15, 2019.
Inside the cathedral, we give one of the sculptures a close-up — not a full close-up, so audiences can see the fire in the cathedral. The sculpture stands alone in the scene, along with the fire and collapsing roof.
After the fire, the cathedral becomes completely silent. Fire ruins are scattered on the floor; however, a few sculptures remain standing. Suddenly, a light beam pours in and shines on one of the sculptures, the one that receives a close-up in scene 2, our character, Jean LeBlanc. LeBlanc slowly moves forward and starts wandering in the cathedral.
Jean LeBlanc wanders in the nave; the only sound audiences hear in this scene is his sword scraping the floor. He wanders lonely and wistfully.
Animation + AR
Jean LeBlanc revived in the fire ruins of Notre Dame de Paris. He also came to ITP 👻
The animation was done in Adobe After Effects and the AR was done in Adobe Aero.