School Assignment - Character

Wiktor · Nov 2010

Hey all!
We just got an assignment today at uni to create a character for thursday.
Kinda panicing here because my strength really isn't characters..

The assignment was to create a concept and a 3D model, with max 10k tris.

This is what I have so far:

I'm pretty happy with the head and the arm shields/cannons.
The goal was to create a parrot-ish look.
I'm having some serious problems getting the lower parts right though.. Don't like the legs and crotch.

Any feedback is appreciated!

Wiktor · Nov 2010

Uncolored version if you found the colored ones hard to watch:

SaferDan · Nov 2010

I too am currently making a character for a university assignment and i struggle with them too! My knowledge of anatomy is poor! Although thankfully i get 12 weeks!

Your character looks good

although what are things on his arms? Is it a diving suit?

The colours look good, it reminds me of eyptian-ness!

Wiktor · Nov 2010

Thank you!
The things on his arms are both supposed to be shields, propulsion for short leaps through the air and plasma cannons. I haven't modeled the cannons yet though. :P

I decided to make him shorter.. I think it added some more character.
Let me know what you think!

SaferDan · Nov 2010

ahhh cool sorry! Ill let you finsh modelling before i start questioning things!

The new height does give him alot more character, i like it alot

ZacD · Nov 2010

yeah the new proportions are working a lot better, I like the lack of leg armor, too.

RPTGB · Nov 2010

I really like where your going with this, its got a kind of Egyptian god thing going on. Keep going

Wiktor · Nov 2010

Thanks for the kind words guys!

I keep going back and forth between the tall and the short versions though.. I can't decide! >.<

Cortes · Nov 2010

Could you explain more the physics of the arm shields? You said they aid in propulsion. How?

Anyway, this is a really cool character!

MephistonX · Nov 2010

i like the look of the character but he doesnt look like he has much manoverability in the suit ?

Noors · Nov 2010

Short version ! Short version ! With elf shoes !

Wiktor · Nov 2010

Another WIP shot, including a rough concept.
I decided I go with the normal height one. My girlfriend persuaded me. She loves the postmen in Wind Waker, and this character reminded her of them. :P

SaferDan · Nov 2010

awwwwww but....but....the short one

lol nah he's looking good man

Wiktor · Nov 2010

Thanks!

Here's a quick test render I put together to try some settings for the final presentation on thursday:

Gotta pose him now, unless anyone have some crits on the design?

Wiktor · Nov 2010

Okay.. I kinda took this in a completely different direction than I had planned.
I figured that since I'm in school again, I should learn something new instead of trudging in the same old tracks, so I decided ti HAND PAINT it. This is something I have never done before! I'm having a great time so far. It's a lot to figure out by trial and error, but that's just fun!

Here's what I have so far:

I'm sure there are tons of things I've done wrong, but that's why I'm posting here!

Wiktor · Dec 2010

Update on the texture!

Am I doing this right? x)

Drakon · Dec 2010

Lookin good

Cant wait to see where and how the plasmacannons fit in

camza · Dec 2010

Looking good so far. Have you done an AO bake? That will help guide you with the shading.

Wiktor · Dec 2010

Thanks!

@camza: Yes, I did an AO bake, and it was very helpful!

Thanks for the advice though!

Wiktor · Dec 2010

Should I call it done?

ErichWK · Dec 2010

Man! Looks great! But no, I would not call it done, think of the hyperdetail..the little things. The dings, the scratches, the worn paint. It doesn't have to be like, heavy. But sometimes the little things make the big things come out more.

Wiktor · Dec 2010

ErichWK wrote: »

Man! Looks great! But no, I would not call it done, think of the hyperdetail..the little things. The dings, the scratches, the worn paint. It doesn't have to be like, heavy. But sometimes the little things make the big things come out more.

Thank you very much!

That's great advice! I had totally forgoten about that. Cheers, I'll definately do that.

DoomerEX · Dec 2010

Very nice colour scheme, and the face has lots of character. Am I right in thinking the shields swivel round to use the cannons? 'Cause it looked that way. Paint-job is looking quite off-the-shelf level new, so you might want to wear it away in some places, and dull it down.

Wiktor · Dec 2010

DoomerEX wrote: »

Very nice colour scheme, and the face has lots of character. Am I right in thinking the shields swivel round to use the cannons? 'Cause it looked that way. Paint-job is looking quite off-the-shelf level new, so you might want to wear it away in some places, and dull it down.

Thanks for the kind words!
Yes, you are correct! The shields rotate around 180 degrees to allow the wielder to aim the turbines/cannons at the target to shoot or to boost away for a short leap.
I agree about the paint job, and I am currently trying to add some wear and tear to him, but I keep failing.
Do you have any advice on how to go about wearing it down a bit?

Cheers!

fearian · Dec 2010

this is a really cool design! I'm going to repeat what other people have advised and say put in some smaller details! Don't go overboard, I like the clean look you have going on here. It wouldn't have to be wear and tear either - I think a hexagonal pattern over the black joints would look great and give it a feeling of a real material, some translucent shield effect emanating from the shield arm would break things up a little bit too.

Wiktor · Dec 2010

Thanks for the crits man! I really appreciate it!
Both the hexahonal pattern the hologram ideas were awesome, so I decided to implement them! Thanks!

Do you like how the hologram looks?

Muffinking · Dec 2010

reminded me of shriek from batman beyond when i first saw the concept

DoomerEX · Dec 2010

I have no experience in skinning, TBH, I'm just calling it as I see it. I have no effin' idea what everyone means when they talk about "Baking" and "Normals".

And I agree with fearian, a hexagonal patern on the black looks good. Actually, as far as the shield goes, a honeycomb barrier of hexagons would likely look pretty awesome too, but you'll have to ask yourself the question as of whether it is better than the current design, which is more subtle. Again, just calling it as I see it, no experience(yet), I just hang around here to check out some of your awesome stuff.

Taylor Hood · Dec 2010

DoomerEX wrote: »

I have no experience in skinning, TBH, I'm just calling it as I see it. I have no effin' idea what everyone means when they talk about "Baking" and "Normals".
.

I'm not even a 3d artist and I know what Normals are.
I think you might need to know what normals are to be a character artist.

Oh dear.

Wiktor · Dec 2010

Okay.. I think I have to call this done now.
Closing up on the deadline, and I don't know what I can do to fix it up more. >.<
Any ideas on last minute changes?

Cheers!

Wiktor · Dec 2010

Right.. Decided to spend the remaining time to try and add some scratches.

Do you think this looks better? More or less?

Wiktor · Dec 2010

Okay.. I'm really stretching it now.
Gotta call it done!

I did some minor color changes and tweaks here and there. Added some deep blue to the shadows etc.
Also, I decided to tone down the scratches a little bit.

Hope you like it!

IchII3D · Dec 2010

Nice character design and well executed, my only comment would be it seems to be lacking small details. Things like model numbers, bar-codes and company logos. Even something as simple as a security window is sold by having that small sticker in the bottom corner. Its those details that its currently lacking in my opinion.

School Assignment - Character

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