UNITE
DES401 - VISIONARY HYBRIDS PROF - MARI FUJITA
T1 / 24
49.26600538365908, -123.25618055844977
M1 : Picture Book
M2
L1 : Mapping
- Write a picture book manuscript for 3-6 year olds, suitable for a 32-page book (14-15 spreads).
- Include a basic narrative arc with:
- A problem
- Attempts to solve it
- Success or failure
- A twist or reveal
- Use storytelling devices like the rule of three, onomatopoeia, alliteration, and assonance.
- Avoid traditional rhyming unless necessary and well-executed.
- Aim for 400-1000 words of text, plus illustration notes (not counted in word count).
- Include at least one spread with divergence between text and illustrations.
- Format as a manuscript, not a mock-up. Sample illustrations are optional.
- Have a rough draft ready for workshop on September 26th.
When I was 22/23 my friend introduced me to the book called The Power of Myth. Through that work I learned about The Hero's Journey.
It’s a narrative pattern identified by mythologist Joseph Campbell in his 1949 work "The Hero with a Thousand Faces." The journey describes an adventure of an archetypal hero found in mythologies across many cultures. There is a hero who goes on an adventure, faces a crisis, wins a victory, and returns transformed. This structure has been widely adopted in storytelling, particularly in literature and film, as a template for crafting compelling narratives. Here I try to follow the framework for the child in the wild with iterrations as history.
child wakes up not knowing where he is.
he searches for a guardian, someone he is attached to or his home he is thirsty and hungry so he walks toward the trees and bushes (forest) he eats berries and tries to find water as he sees a horses far out walking towards west and he follows thinking they might want to drink eventually too.
he dreams of running with the horses as fast as the wind he dreams of swimming with seals holding their breath and catching bright fish he dreams of an eagle building her nest on a high cliff mountain he encounters a strong wind and his dream of horses empowers him to handle it and even enjoy it a bit as he tries to find his home he encounters hunger and makes a dam to catch fish from watching the eagle build a nest.
he encounters a wolf who chases him toward the water as he falls he learns how to swim like the seals. in the end he returns to the same land he was found.
(his fingers running through the grass intertwining his body with the body of the earth)
- Ordinary World / Call to Adventure:
- child lays in a meadow with tall grasses around him or something akin to a steppe, on his back, head facing east.
- Child wakes up in an unfamiliar place, disoriented.
- He realizes he's lost and needs to find his way home.
- Refusal of the Call / Meeting the Mentor:
- Child initially feels overwhelmed and scared.
- He notices nature around him (trees, birds, wind) which subtly guides him.
- Crossing the Threshold:
- Hunger and thirst drive him to explore the forest.
- He eats berries and searches for water.
- Tests, Allies, Enemies:
- He sees a few figures with long hair waving in the wind across the meadow. He smiles and runs toward them
- As he gets closer they float away with more and more speed
- As the tall grass clears he realizes they are horses and that they are too fast for him. Disappointed and exhausted he leans against a large boulder.
- His eyes shut and he dreams of running with the horses, this time he is one of them side by side, feeling their strength and freedom.
- Approach to the Inmost Cave:
- He awakes to a gust of wind
- In the distance he sees a large branch swooping in the air
- As he attemps to reach and discover what it is the wind grows stronger.
- its force reminds him of his dream and he leans into the wind, imagining himself as a swift horse. A smile appears on his face, but his arms cover his face
- After much trekking his toes touch water, and the wind is softer. As he looks ahead he is in a cove (or something alike with sea water but not a river) with cliffs to his right. No sign of the flying branch.
- Ordeal:
- Hunger returns. He notices fish in the water and tries to catch but fails uisng his arms.
- After many attempts to use a branch to catch he throws it in the water and kneels on the ground.
- Tears flow down his cheek
- The branch elevates from the water and the boy lifts his head to see a golden eagle swoop it up toward the cliffs.
- his gaze follows the flight as the branch joins other branches
- the branches are as big as the kid so he thinks it must be a lot of work
- With energy restored he runs toward fallen trees and collects as many branches as he can for the bird
- As the eagle cant pick them up fast enough and the pile grows. And so does the tide.
- as he realizes how deep the water is he notices a dark shape approach him. As he runs toward sand he stumbles and falls in.
- He resurfaces and breathes heavily, realizing the creature is nowhere to be found.
- his pile begins to disintegrate and float away. he runs to salvage what he can noticing a fish swiming between the walls of the pile.
- he tries to grab one but it escapes and he falls again in the water.
- he kneels again this time in the water disappointed that he had a chance to eat but now its gone forever.
- another tear flows down his cheek
- he hears his branches crash and he sees the fish returnand this time not just one but two.
- He takes the biggest breath and dips his head under water to face a creature, a seal, dancing around his structure. After coming up for air the seal swims away.
- With the structure having a new shape after the crash the fish are trapped and the boy is in glee.
- he throws one back for the seal.
- Reward:
- Satisfied but still lost, he continues his journey.
- He spots a high cliff in the distance and decides to climb it for a better view.
- The Road Back:
- As he climbs, a wolf picks up the scent of fish and begins to pursue him.
- He runs towards the edge of the cliff, with no other escape.
- Resurrection:
- At the edge, he hesitates, but remembers his closes his eyes and pretends to be the eagle.
- He dives in, swimming deeper and holding his breath like the seals.
- The wolf doesn't follow, and he emerges on the other side of the water.
Return with Elixir (Revised):
- Emerging, the child finds himself in a misty sunset clearing he doesn't recognize.
- As he wades and waves through the mist, it takes shape of what appears to be his face. Something so familar (mama?)
- He reaches out to touch it, and his hand passes through, leaving a tingling sensation.
- The mist clears, revealing to the reader that he's back where he started, but the landscape seems alive in a way we never noticed before.
- Pulling his hands back he sees and smells traces of earth, berry juice, and fish - elements of his journey merged with his skin.
- he kneels one last time
- Pressing his ear to the ground, facing west, he hears a heartbeat - slow, steady, ancient.
- closing his eyes he realizes the heartbeat is synchronized with his own.
- The child is no longer searching for home, understanding he's part of a greater, living whole.
- the roots and leaves grow over his back blanketing his body as he begins to dream.
- Ordinary World / Call to Adventure:
- Child lies in a meadow of swaying grass, his head cradled by a bed of wildflowers.
- He wakes to the unfamiliar sensation of petals tickling his ears, disoriented.
- As he sits up, the landscape shifts subtly, signaling he's far from home.
- Refusal of the Call / Meeting the Mentor:
- Panic rises in his throat, but a warm breeze carries whispers of the land.
- Nature itself becomes his guide: rustling leaves point directions, bird calls offer encouragement.
- Crossing the Threshold:
- Hunger gnaws and thirst parches. The child reluctantly leaves the meadow's safety.
- He forages, tasting tart berries and sweet nectar from flowers.
- Tests, Allies, Enemies:
- Distant figures with flowing manes beckon. He gives chase, hope surging.
- The figures morph into wild horses, always just beyond reach.
- Exhausted, he collapses against a boulder that seems to pulse with an ancient heartbeat.
- In a vivid dream, he gallops alongside the herd, wind whipping through his own mane.
- Approach to the Inmost Cave:
- He wakes to a gale that nearly lifts him off his feet.
- A massive branch spirals through the air like a wayward bird.
- Remembering his dream, he leans into the wind, imagining himself as an unbreakable horse.
- The gale guides him to a hidden cove, cliffs towering to one side.
- Ordeal:
- Hunger returns with a vengeance. Fish taunt him from the shallows.
- Frustrated attempts to catch them end with him sobbing on the shore.
- A golden eagle swoops down, snatching his discarded branch for its nest.
- Inspired, he gathers more branches, building a crude fish trap.
- As he works, the tide rises, and a dark shape glides beneath the surface.
- Startled, he tumbles into deeper water, coming face-to-face with a curious seal.
- The seal playfully dismantles his trap, but in doing so, creates a natural corral for fish.
- Boy and seal share the unexpected bounty, forming an unlikely alliance.
- Reward:
- With a full belly and renewed spirit, he eyes the looming cliffs.
- Each handhold feels like a whispered secret from the rock face itself.
- The Road Back:
- Near the summit, a wolf's howl freezes him in place.
- Torn between descent and continuing up, he chooses a third option.
- Resurrection:
- Channeling the eagle's courage and the seal's grace, he leaps from the cliff.
- For a heart-stopping moment, he flies, before plunging into the waters below.
- He swims with newfound confidence, evading the wolf and emerging far down the coast.
- Return with Elixir:
- The shore he reaches is veiled in mist that dances with familiar shapes.
- As he moves through it, the mist takes on aspects of his journey: galloping horses, soaring eagles, playful seals.
- His hands, when he looks at them, bear traces of his adventure: berry stains, fish scales, rock dust.
- Kneeling, he presses his ear to the earth and hears a rhythm that matches his own heartbeat.
- He realizes he's back where he started, but he's forever changed.
- As he drifts into sleep, the land seems to embrace him, roots and leaves gently covering him like a living blanket.
- In his dreams, he's no longer lost, but part of a greater whole, his journey woven into the tapestry of the natural world.
Anna
In a meadow where grasses whispered secrets to the wind, a child lay dreaming. As dawn's first light touched the earth, his eyes fluttered open. The world around him was strange and new, a canvas of unfamiliar hues.
Disoriented, the child rose. Where was home? The trees stood silent, their leaves a tapestry of green and gold. Birds called from hidden perches, their songs a melody of mystery. The wind, a gentle guide, tugged at his clothes, urging him forward.
Hunger gnawed, and thirst parched his throat. The forest beckoned with promises of sustenance. Berries, ripe and glistening, offered their sweetness. Cool water trickled over stones, inviting him to drink.
Across the meadow, figures danced in the distance. Long hair flowing like banners in the breeze, they seemed to beckon. The child ran, heart light with hope. But as tall grass parted, revelation dawned - not people, but horses, wild and free. They galloped away, leaving only the echo of hoofbeats and dreams of speed.
Exhausted, the child leaned against an ancient boulder. Sleep claimed him, and in dreams he ran with the herd, no longer chasing but belonging. Wind rushed through his mane, earth thundered beneath his hooves. He was strength. He was freedom.
A gust of wind woke him, carrying a strange sight - a branch swooping through the air like a wayward bird. Curiosity piqued, he gave chase. The wind grew fierce, but the child leaned into it, imagining himself a swift horse once more. A smile played on his lips even as his arms shielded his face from the gale.
His journey led him to water's edge, a hidden cove embraced by towering cliffs. The flying branch was gone, lost to the vastness of sky. But new wonders awaited beneath the waves.
Hunger returned, sharp and insistent. Fish darted in the shallows, silver flashes just beyond reach. Frustration mounted with each failed attempt to catch them. Tears of defeat mingled with the salty sea.
Then, a golden eagle soared overhead, branch clutched in its talons. The child watched in awe as it added to a massive nest high on the cliff face. Inspired, he gathered his own collection of branches, a offering to the majestic bird.
But the rising tide had other plans. Water deepened, branches floated away, and a dark shape approached beneath the surface. Fear gripped the child as he scrambled for shore, stumbling and falling into the waves.
When he resurfaced, gasping, the creature was gone. His carefully gathered pile disintegrated, drifting apart on the current. Yet as he knelt in the shallows, disappointment heavy in his heart, life surprised him once more. Fish returned, drawn to the new structure created by scattered branches.
A seal appeared, dancing through the improvised reef. The child dove beneath the waves, marveling at this playful creature. Coming up for air, he found himself laughing, joy bubbling up from deep within. He caught a fish at last, sharing his prize with his new seal friend.
Hunger sated but still far from home, the child spied a high cliff in the distance. Perhaps from its peak, he could see the way back. He climbed, muscles straining, determination driving him upward.
But danger lurked. A wolf, drawn by the scent of fish, began to pursue. The child ran, heart pounding, until he found himself at the cliff's edge. There was nowhere left to go.
In that moment of desperation, he remembered. Remembered the eagle's graceful flight, the seal's fluid dives. He closed his eyes, spread his arms, and leapt. For a breathless moment, he was flying, soaring, swimming through air and mist.
He plunged into cool water, diving deep like his seal companion. When he surfaced on the far shore, the wolf was gone. In its place stood a misty glade touched by the golden light of sunset.
As he waded through the mist, it seemed to take shape, forming a face both strange and achingly familiar. His hand passed through it, leaving a tingling sensation and the faintest whisper of "mama."
The mist cleared, revealing a landscape both new and deeply known. The child looked at his hands, seeing traces of earth, berry juice, and scales - his journey etched upon his skin.
Kneeling one last time, he pressed his ear to the ground. A heartbeat pulsed beneath him, slow and steady, ancient as the earth itself. His own heart fell into rhythm with it, and he understood at last. He was home. He had always been home.
As sleep claimed him once more, roots and leaves grew over him like a living blanket. The child dreamed, no longer lost, but part of a greater, breathing whole.
1. **The Awakening**
A child lies in a vast meadow with tall grasses, head facing east. The sky suggests early morning. The child's eyes are just opening, a mix of confusion and wonder on their face.
2. **Nature's Guidance**
The child stands in a clearing, surrounded by trees. Birds perch on branches, and leaves rustle in the wind. Subtle arrows or pathways formed by nature elements hint at a direction.
3. **Berry Feast**
Close-up of the child's hands holding colorful berries. In the background, a lush forest with a small stream running through it.
4. **Chasing the Wind Horses**
A wide meadow with several horses running in the distance, their long manes flowing like banners. The child is mid-run, arms outstretched, trying to catch up.
5. **Dream of Freedom**
A dreamlike scene where the child, transformed into a horse, runs alongside a herd. The landscape is slightly blurred and ethereal, suggesting a dream state.
6. **Wind's Challenge**
The child leans into a strong wind, arms shielding their face. In the distance, a large branch swoops through the air. The landscape shows signs of the wind's force - bent grass, swaying trees.
7. **Coastal Discovery**
A expansive view of a cove with cliffs to the right. The child's small figure stands at the water's edge, toes just touching the water. The sky suggests late afternoon.
8. **Eagle's Flight**
A golden eagle soars above, carrying a branch in its talons. Below, the child looks up in awe. The background shows cliffs with a nest made of collected branches.
9. **Rising Tide**
The child stands knee-deep in water, surrounded by floating branches. In the distance, a dark shape approaches beneath the water's surface. The sky is darkening, adding to the tension.
10. **Underwater Dance**
An underwater scene showing the child face-to-face with a playful seal. Fish swim around them, and sunlight filters through the water's surface above.
11. **Feast and Friendship**
The child sits on the shore, eating a fish. Nearby, a seal pops its head out of the water, a fish in its mouth too. The scene suggests a shared meal and newfound companionship.
12. **The Climb**
A sweeping view of a high cliff face. The child is a small figure partway up, determination evident in their posture. The landscape below shows the journey so far.
13. **Leap of Faith**
The child stands at the edge of a cliff, arms spread wide like an eagle's wings. Below, water crashes against rocks. The posture suggests both fear and courage.
14. **Misty Reunion**
A misty clearing at sunset. The child stands with outstretched hands, touching a mist formation that resembles a familiar face (possibly the child's mother). The mist swirls with warm colors from the setting sun.
15. **One with Nature**
The child lies on the ground, facing west, eyes closed peacefully. Roots and leaves are growing over the child's body like a blanket. The entire landscape seems alive, with subtle faces or shapes in the clouds, trees, and earth, suggesting a living, breathing world.