Cuckoo Clock Concept and Design

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First some sketches. First, we have a clock made of an island hut with a coconut and banana clock. When it chimes, coconuts fall out of the trees and roll into the hole in front while the waves rock back and forth.

Second is a grandfather clock type composed of Tardis pieces...this one is a little too complicated.

Thirdly, I tried a clock that is a sword that could sit over a mantle in any Aztec warrior's home. The hands are on a chain that goes around the flaming blade. On the chime, the handle opens and a heart pops out and back in.

Next, I have a volcano clock that erupts and oozes slime or lava all over the city below. The city acts as a barrier to block the lava from escaping and allow it to be pumped back in to re-emerge.

Lastly, I opted to try something in more of a binary clock design. I tried a Tron design that went no where. The next attempt turned out looking like an ambiguous scarab thing.

The ultimate decision was to go with the Volcano and make it a desktop cuckoo clock.

The animation pitch goes like this:

On the hour, a flame on a little metal stick pops up and bobbles. Then the gears start to grind, the motor freezes, which causes smoke to start pouring out. Then, a glowing reddish orange ooze starts to flow, embers following it, out of the volcano. The lava cascades around the clock, but it pours into the town on the back and overflows. The lava spills out onto the desk and and over the side. As it spreads, it sets things on the desk on fire.