Concept art and image planes are created (already few months ago) - it's all HERE.I started modeling, a this time i have modeled main character's head (Good Professor). Modeling was no hard, and head took me about 8 hours. It was a little challenge when it came to the eyes - cause after adding them, head started to look wrong. Eyes and eyelids plays main role in the face and they should be modeled very accurately, even if you character have a cartoony look.
Another thing that you must always think about is topology - it will affect your animation quality and possibilities.At this time i didn't choose the way i will do the hairs - but there is a two way that i'm thinking of - Polygon object (geometry) or 3D hair system.
Another kind of situation it's professors coat, there is also two ways of doing it, that i'm thinking about: Cloth simulation or Polygon object with flex/jiggle modifier applied to it.
At this moment my plans is to finish this movie until March 2009 (we'll see)
;)