Princess Sparkly Pants

This is a project I've been developing for almost two years.  The Idea first came when I was thinking about how it must suck for Price Harry because he has all the responsibility and is required to act like a future King without actually getting the perk at the end.  So, when speaking to my flat mate about it, Alyssa came into my head.  A 13 year old 'spare heir' misfit Princess who not only doesn't want to conform to how her family thinks she should act, she has her own ideas about who she is and who she'd like to be.  Through a series of unfortunate events (caused mainly by her) Alyssa gains super powers and spends her days balancing saving the kingdom from evil Dr. Pleasantry, D.D.S and eating her salad with the right fork.  


I am currently working on a teaser tape with my animation partner Kat Wade.  Below are some initial character drawings and descriptions.

Alyssa as Sparkly Girl

“Do I have to do EVERYTHING around here??”

         

The youngest princess in waiting for the Kingdom of Primingham, Alyssa has spare heir syndrome.  No matter how hard she tries she can’t be as prim and proper as her parents expect. When Alyssa is a princess, the hips of her dress stick way out causing her to have to go through single doorways sideways, just another annoying part of being a princess. She often forgets this when running around and gets stuck in doorways or bounces off hallway entrances, causing her to land upside-down with her converse sneakers and drawers showing to the whole kingdom.  This doesn’t embarrass Alyssa has much as it embarrasses her mother and sister.  Her favorite pastimes include skateboarding, colourful nail polish, getting in the way - according to her older sister Allegra - and foiling Evil Dr. Pleasantry (don’t let the name fool you!).  One fateful day, she causes an accident in Dr. Pleasantry’s lab, which was on the other side of the Palace fence – not the smartest place to put expensive machinery, really.   Alyssa receives super powers, transforming her into Sparkly Girl where she sees the opportunity to help her Kingdom in another way. 

          

The way she controls her powers is slightly awkward, as they are connected to a pair of her mother’s XXL diamante studded ‘granny panties’.  They fell off the washing line during the accident and landed on Alyssa’s head.  So now, in order for her to transform into Sparkly Girl, she has to put the underpants on her head.  Her mother’s unmentionables take over her whole body and with a combination of involuntary acrobatics and ‘glurping’ noises Alyssa becomes Sparkly Girl. Unfortunately she needs to keep this all a secret because being a Superhero definitely isn’t in the ‘How To Behave Like a Perfect Princess’ handbook.  

Farley the Garden Gnome

“This ain’t my first… rodeo, day at school, leg wax etc.”

Another casualty of the ‘incident’, Farley was a lawn decoration that was in the backyard near Alyssa when the nut went into Dr. Pleasantry’s machine.  Consequently, he is now a real person and works as a spy, confidante and sidekick for Alyssa. He looks as cute as one of Santa’s Elves, but sounds like a Brooklyn cab driver.  Complete with a 5 o’clock shadow and a ‘Mum’ tattoo, this little guy doesn’t take lip from anyone.  Unfortunately, his sandpaper personality really rubs people the wrong way, so as much help as he is, Farley is usually a big part of the problem.  Not only does Alyssa have to protect the kingdom from an evil Dentist, she must also patch up all of the relationships Farley seems to rip holes though on a daily basis. 

One little catch, when Alyssa is in Princess mode, Farley freezes back into a regular garden Gnome with only his eyes still able to move and he is also able to mutter slightly.  As you can imagine, the freezing at random times can be inconvenient and has him stuck in precarious positions for extended periods of time.  Good thing Alyssa has an overactive imagination, otherwise it might be difficult to explain to her mother why the garden Gnome is in her bedroom holding a pair of the royal underpants.

Dr Pleasantry, D.D.S as Chipmank

“How am I meant to take over the world without dental floss?” 

Don’t let the name fool you, this man is extremely dangerous, and could cause the world to collapse at any moment.  He is the Mad Dentist - that’s right, Dentist - in the Kingdom of Primingham, also King Aldred’s estranged third cousin twice removed.  He’s convinced he has claim to the throne and is constantly trying to steal the Crown Jewels, which he believes hold the key in proving that he is the rightful ruler of Primingham.  He prides himself on being a wildly successful dentist, so if nothing else, Pleasantry has impeccable dental hygiene.  On that fateful day, Alyssa’s 13^th birthday, she kicks a nut into his machine and it accidentally turns him into a Superhuman Chipmunk, or Chipmank, if you will.  This actually makes his job slightly easier, but unfortunately doesn’t make Alyssa’s claims more believable.  His powers are attached to the nut Alyssa kicked over the fence causing the accident.  Pleasantry keeps it in his pocket and uses it when he needs to conceal his identity and take over the kingdom without anyone realizing it’s his or her local dentist, as he obviously doesn’t want to jeopardize his practice.  He has a sidekick, his half brother Bob, who also seems to be missing half a brain.  

Poppy

“hmgfpt!”

This magnificent steed is the horse Alyssa received for her 13^th birthday even though she asked for a puppy.  She named him Poppy anyway and basically treats him like a dog, which the horse doesn’t mind at all, although sleeping at the foot of the bed is getting increasingly difficult as he gets bigger.  When the accident with Dr. Pleasantry happens, Poppy gains the ability to fly.  Unfortunately he is afraid of heights and when Alyssa is flying around with him he is always trying to use his hoofs to cover his eyes or grab onto trees, flag poles or roofs, anything to get on solid ground again.  When he is in flight mode he grows a horn much like a unicorn, which is a radar and flight navigation tool, and wings. He is a white horse with a brown spot on his nose that kinda looks like a bogie.  People are always making motions towards him like he has something on his face or offer him tissues.  He’s insulted by it, but can’t speak, so gives more than his fair share of indignant looks.  In the end, he loves being Alyssa’s Porsey/Hoppy and is excited by all the action that comes with being her trusty steed, except obviously the flying bit.