4) How would the final product be distributed?

Most likely by Internet, since the normal distribution channels seem to be only looking for reformulated versions of older products with saleable names from proven vendors. Indeed, the distributors I have approached Sapphire with had the option of seeing it as an original product, or a sequel to another presold

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story...every time, those folks said "Make it a SEQUEL." Hey, I understand why...they gotta eat, and they don't like to gamble on new when old sells.

Hopefully, the Internet market will let the Sapphire characters address mature topics and have evolving mature relationships, and do so tastefully and for plausible reasons. I sure hope so, since right now, only the Japanese and European markets seem able to handle mature topics in animation's normal distribution channels. I'd like to see an American outfit do the same, but none have.






5) As the tools have advanced, so has your product. Do you see it differently now? Can you fulfill more of what you saw originally?

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I do see Sapphire differently. It's far more focused (indeed, BEING focused) now than it was of old, and has more subtle quirks in the characters and story. Same for the animation, which is admittedly more limited than full-on classic animation, but does have unusual fluidity for the motions it does encompass. The improving tools do make more possible. The old SWAMPRACH test, done years ago, couldn't have the timing nuances nor the lighting that the latest DOORRACH test does (the shuddering gives more of a feel of Rachel straining to get to Jonathan). Thank the new tools like Boris Continuum and refinements to existing tools like After Effects and Commotion (I did get a few tweaks to older tools as well). Also, the 3D tools have become fast enough and flexible enough to allow me to consider more of the animation as well as future backgrounds to be done as 3D.



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