This week we're gonna take a look at Elijah Burp, the youngest member of the Burp family.
In the script we are introduced to Eijah as "a pudgy six year old boy whose little marshmallow body shifts and wiggles in his seat. He is adorable and impossible to picture skinny."
Our long synopsis says something similar. "a pudgy marshmallow of a boy whose spirit is as bright and pure as the thick white snow that blankets the playgrounds, parks, and neighborhoods in which they live"
Though Elijah has held on to most of his baby fat, I imagine him as a pretty kinetic kid. Ready to dash from here to there on a whim. Often fidgeting. I also picture him as kind of out of control of his own body - always tripping, stumbling over himself. Limbs not quite long or strong enough for his roly poly torso.
Elijah's joy, optimism and hope is a much needed balm for the Burp family (and the audience) as they try to heal some old wounds at Christmas time. So when Elijah hurts, the family hurts, and so do we. It's important that his design allows for empathy, and that his emotional range engages us.
I'm not sure this current version is there yet. Not really sold on the side view and the 3q needs some cleaning up. But I think the front is almost there.
What do you guys think?
til next time,
MPH
