When starting to convert everything into 3D there comes several technical and visual difficulties. The progress of each character, prop and set changes constantly as the film progresses.
Here is a look at each of those assets from within the film.
THE CHARACTERS
One of the first steps in Pre Production is just gaining an understanding in using the rigs.
I took some time creating an overall look and feel for each of the characters and tested them with animation, renders and cohesiveness.
I took some time creating an overall look and feel for each of the characters and tested them with animation, renders and cohesiveness.
ASHA
Asha is the main character of the film. I wanted her to feel plain, but youthful. The Kayla rig was very fun to work with, and one of my favourites still. I didn’t do much to the default rig, but her hands were textured with the green handprints which shows up subtly in some shots, and I gave her some freckles. She worked well with the lightbulb rig in hand, and overall I felt she was the perfect style.
MOTHER SELENA
Mother Selena was only part of the flashback sequence. Although her presence is throughout the film, the actual rig was only used for posing. She was honestly the closest one I could find that looked somewhat similar to Asha. She worked well and had a great “motherly” feel.
FABLE HORSE
As I said before, I was very excited to use the horse rig. It is a very accurate rig, and was incredibly light and easy to use throughout the whole production. I was worried about the clash of styles between Asha and the horse, but it seemed to work in my early posing tests, so I carried forward.
I preferred working on the horse shots because the rig feels like it is full of muscle, so it was so fun to see it in motion.
I preferred working on the horse shots because the rig feels like it is full of muscle, so it was so fun to see it in motion.
As soon as I created this shot, I knew immediately that I wanted to incorporate into the final film somehow.
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THE LIGHTBULB
The Lightbulb was my test.
I knew I wanted to try a little bit of rigging and this was the perfect asset to try that on.
I made the model myself, and the beginnings of the rig as well. However, the final version of the rig was completed with the help of my classmate Jin Ji.
It worked great within the film, and I’m so glad it was able to be the balloon I had envisioned. There was definitely some question as to whether or not it would work as it is an entire character in itself.
I knew I wanted to try a little bit of rigging and this was the perfect asset to try that on.
I made the model myself, and the beginnings of the rig as well. However, the final version of the rig was completed with the help of my classmate Jin Ji.
It worked great within the film, and I’m so glad it was able to be the balloon I had envisioned. There was definitely some question as to whether or not it would work as it is an entire character in itself.
THE ASSETS
THE TREE
The tree was modeled in a few days, and I decided to keep it low poly as it gives feeling to the industrialized world.
THE ENVIRONMENT
The final film involved only two sets, but different areas of those sets
The Forest and the Cave
The Forest and the Cave
Straight from the get go I envisioned a forest of just vertical rectangles.
I was able to hold fast to that idea through the entire production. Although they started very thin and populated frequently throughout the shots, later they were thickened and less were visible in the shots. They became more imposing towards the characters.
I was able to hold fast to that idea through the entire production. Although they started very thin and populated frequently throughout the shots, later they were thickened and less were visible in the shots. They became more imposing towards the characters.
The Cave environment is quite simple. It is just a flat turf, with cubes rather than extended "trees" and feels more hazy, more desolate than the eery feeling of the forest.
THE MURAL
The mural was a little piece of me that I wanted to sneak into my project.
The love of traditional art.
I needed to create a painting, so I rolled up my sleeves and actually painted a mural in my apartment.
I love finger painting as a form of expression, so it was perfect to create a piece to put within the 3D world.
The love of traditional art.
I needed to create a painting, so I rolled up my sleeves and actually painted a mural in my apartment.
I love finger painting as a form of expression, so it was perfect to create a piece to put within the 3D world.
The painting to the left was my first attempt, the painting to the right was my second. The first one just didn't turn out the way I had envisioned, so I took a second stab at it.
The mural wasn't actually a big enough painting to have proportional hand prints, so I made some on separate paper and composited them into the painting. It is almost poetic that my hand prints were used in the film. As I have always liked handprints.
These same hand prints have also become my branding, as they are now part of my logo.
Here is the speed paint of the mural as well. As you can see, it's quite a large piece, done with my fingers, but brushes were used for the small details