Narrative: Maya Assets

Modelled,Uved and textured, busy busy weekend but was really fun, especially the texturing :)

Narrative environment concept

Environment concept for the final shot where we see the ravine from the top and the vast deep blue open space, contrasting with the claustrophobic ravine.

Environment concept art

After discussing things with our group I did an environment concept using the corals from the production art to help visualuse things better.

Production art #2

After a brief discussion about the route we are going for in production art terms, we decided to keep things in the theme of imprisonment. The assets needed to suggest lack of freedom. The thinking behind the design was just that, lots of vertical lines imitating prison bars and capsules, trapped light and patterns.

Narrative project production art

Some early designs, inspired by the colours we are going for in previous concepts. Eva suggested a shape language that implies entrapment so i will have a rethink on those soon. It was fun designing them anyway. :)

Narrative project character concept

This one is for the updated story, based on a manta ray.

Narrative project revised environment concept

Since the story evolved so did the environment for the project. Here is a quick concept art:

Group project: pufferfish character concepts

I know it's early days still but I wanted to explore some interesting silhouettes. Let me know what you guys think.

1

2 (Nicholas Cage)

3

4

5

6

Cleaner shrimp character thumbnails

The idea of the cleaner shrimp is to be a backup character, my personal favourite is 5 but prefer the pattern of 2.

Group project: Story ideas

The idea we wanted to focus on is for a puffer fish that creates beautiful patterns at the bottom of the sea. The idea is borrowed from the actual mating behavior of puffer fish in nature:

In this underwater world everything will be covered with beautiful patterns, tiles and mosaics.

The main character (a puffer fish) will be unable to create patterns in the sand and is being laughed at by all the other male fish who follow the rules, and are able to do what is expected of them.

Shortly after that he realizes that when he is angry, or overwhelmed by strong emotions he puffs up and beautiful patterns appear on his body. Every male fish is making fun of him and shortly after that the beauty in the world around him drains away, colours desaturate and patterns disappear. 

One day, he dares to be different and eventually succeeds in being creatively free and himself, he puffs up and creates patterns on his body. When his talent is revealed for everyone to see, the colour and patterns return to his world indicating that the inner peace he achieved is reflected with his surroundings. Male fish do not make fun of him anymore and he gets a lot of admirers.

 

As a supporting character we are discussing a cleaner shrimp, who adopts the behavior in the cockroach in "Wall-e" - being a friend with the main character and directing the attention of the viewer towards specific details in the scene:

Since we are using the crosscutting method of editing we will incorporate a scene where the main character remembers his forgotten talent of creating patterns on his body. The freedom in this story is more of a creative freedom than a physical one.