Ubisoft NEXT Design Journal
These are scanned images (adjusted and cropped in Photoshop) from my notebook where I designed and developed the concepts before modeling my entry in Ubisoft NEXT. As there is no category for Rigging (currently), I am doing the Animation Brief, but with a bit of a twist. For the animation portion, I chose the cinematic option, specifically animating "a character is waiting in a room for something or someone."
I am using the information from the 3D Art brief and designing, modeling, texturing, rigging, and animating the BCC-410 create from the Bureau of Containment and Control. In the 3D Art brief, it highlights the place where the creature was found and how it is contained currently, with a brief description. From that information, I created the creature from the ground up.
A brand new notebook I got for Christmas, set aside just for project Notes.
My first round of character ideation based on my first robot concept. Added further notes after reviewing the brief, specifically the 'unknown construction'.
Some quick concepts around the 'unknown construction' point and how it might be inorganic as well as not mechanical.
Further process into the 'unknown construction' concept along with some structure concepts for the second set of arms. Liked the idea of a grown metal like Bismuth.
More ideation along the idea of Bismuth and how it grows after researching the material.
Concepting on how to connect the pieces of bismuth for the character model, leaning into the diamagnetic properties of Bismuth.
A full draft concept for the creature of 'unknown construction' and some notes on animation ideas like posture and proportions.
Some recap notes to collect my thoughts, along with some ideation on head shapes and how to make the creature more functionally mobile.
A second full draft of the creature and some study into how the individual pieces might look in 3D. Arrows indicate connection points.
Examination of my two main ideas for connecting the joints, along with pros and cons for each. Looks at lighting, rigging, secondary animation ideas, poly counts, etc.
A preliminary checklist of all the pieces needed to assemble the creature model. Also contains some ideation for the hands: specifically the number of joints and fingers between the two sets of hands.
More finger tests, this time in 3D to examine ratios.
Brainstorming ideas for what the creature might do while waiting, as well as deciding between the two possible locations for the creature to be waiting in: its hideout or the containment facility. I picked three actions, and started a basic timeline.
A first draft of a storyboard for the animation, using the three chosen actions from my earlier brainstorming. I chose the creature waiting in containment for a set of investigators to visit.
As I worked on the model, I made these notes for the ramp shader & material I used to create the Bismuth material for the 3D Model. My first attempt was one rainbow cycle (from magenta back to magenta), but it wasn't giving me enough variation.