This is unrelated to the Muffet project, but here's the output from my first lab assignment. It was a basic modeling and Maya interface exercise. I decided to plus it a bit.

Concept

OK, so here's the direction I'm going with this production. The overall idea is to tell the story as a series of jokes that play off people's expectations. The story of Miss Muffet is so short and known by so many from the children's books that it seems like a particularly good candidate for exploding and telling in a different way. The idea is that the literal structure of the actions will remain the same, but we'll reveal a completely unexpected set of character motivations behind those actions.

Conventional storybook art has trained people to expect the spider to be a small little guy dropping in on a string. In my story, it's going to be a big spider - like, bigger than Little Miss Muffet. And he's not just going to be hanging around, doing his thing on a string. He's going to sit down next to Mrs. Muffett because he wants something from her - namely, her CURDS. Not only that, though, he's going to be a smooth-talkin' Jack Nicholson -type that tries to flatter Miss Muffet into giving him what he wants. Muffet, of course, remains the straight man here and is frightened now, not only because there's a spider after her, but because it's a giant spider who's indicated he's attracted to her body.

Implementation

Miss. Muffet is at her friend's farm. She just received a bowl of her favorite breakfast food, Curds and Whey.

She's taking it with her as she eats, exploring the farm. She wanders into a large barn with a sign on every door that involves a picture of a spider, but she (and we) ignores the signs because muffet is paying attention to her curds. Inside the barn, we see an old tattered tuffet sitting in a warm shaft of morning sunlight coming through the open barn loft door. She sits on the lone tuffett in the shop, digging a comfortable spot in the upholstery and begins to eat quickly but wth relish. Suddenly she hears a moo from above and looks up. There's a cow trapped in a giant spider web on the ceiling. The cow has a pleading expression on his face and moos urgently as if telling the girl to, "RUN!" We

PUNCH OUT

to reveal a giant spider sucking on the cow's teats. He turns towards the camera with a milk mustache around his mandibles. His eyes flash at the girl and he cocks his head.

CUT to Wide of GIRL looking up at the ceiling. Her jaw drops and her eyes follow the spider descending off camera and coming towards her. GIANT LEGS creep into the frame as the spider crawls towards the girl, but she's too frightened to move. The legs are so long that the spider body is above the top of the frame.

Finally the legs stop right next to the girl, and the giant spider body plops down with a giant THUD next to Muffet. She winces at the impact.

The spider looks at the bowl of CURDS. And then at Miss Muffet.

"So," says the spider, lifting one of his spindley arms around Muffet's shoulder. Muffet's tension is building, her hands gradually shaking the spoon and bowl more violently. "Giiirrrl, you lookin' FIIINE today." Awkward pause. The spider continues, "Say, are those curds and whey?"

Muffet EXPLODES in panic, throwing her bowl up in the air, sending its contents flying as she runs off, arms flailing, screen left. The spider EXPELS a net of web, like spider man, and sucks the airborne curds into his mouth.

The spider lets out an almost orgasmic "MMMMmmmm."

Title slams in:

CURDS

It's That Good.