BA/MArts 3D Computer Animation

BA/MArts 3D Computer Animation

For this assignment, we were asked to choose from a list of different styles of themes, in this case I chose, 'ghost in the shell'. I started out with browsing the Internet and finding some inspirational images, which gave me the idea of going with a tomb style but futuristic at the same time, hence why I chose ghost in the shell. When sitting down and planning my room out, I wanted to make sure the viewer felt the ancient and the futuristic to the fullest, that's why I wanted to create high tech alien equipment such as, door defences, keypads for entry, holograms and trap doors. 

When I started my research I originally found images based on Greek mythology that quickly changed when I went towards the Egyptian tomb theme. I started off by discovering different images to do with Egyptian tombs. As you can see below a spacious tomb which is a very traditional style of tomb. I was interested in this picture to base my tomb on because of the pillars mainly, also the door and walk way gave me my idea of keeping the door quite big with stairs leading down to the walk way. 

Ref: https://www.backdropsbeautiful.com/africa-backdrops/egyptian-tomb-4-columns.html

My tomb is based around the God of Sun who's name is Ra. The reason I choose this god from the others was because Ra was considered to be a very high powered king and also described as the creator of everything, which gave me the idea of a creature that was respected and mighty but also out of this world (alien). This is when I decided I needed to create a creature that would live in this type of environment. Below is an image of Ra the God of sun.

 I think when creating an environment or a room in this case, it is very important to create or have an idea of what would live there, humans/creatures. It gives you that freedom to think outside of the box and that is what I really enjoy about creating the environment before the human/creature. I wanted to make an Ra inspired tomb, to show power and creation.

Ref:http://www.ancient-egypt.info/2012/03/facts-about-ra-sun-god-of-egypt-secret.html

When coming up with my ideas for my tomb, I looked at a number of different movies for help, such as;

Gods of Egypt 

Ref: https://123wtf.me/2016/06/05/wtf-gods-of-egypt-2016/

Predator

Ref: https://mashable.com/article/the-predator-review/?europe=true

Tomb raider

Ref: https://www.google.com/search?biw=1337&bih=609&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=7BYYXPb8Mf2R1fAPkZedwA8&q=tomb+raider+movie+2001&oq=tomb+raider+mo&gs_l=img.3.5.35i39l2j0l8.2442.4333..6694...0.0..0.104.508.4j2......1....1..gws-wiz-img.......0i67.eh9G4KGB3AE#imgrc=IyJ3fGXd-AvIiM:

The reason I chose these movies was because of there outside the box thinking but at the same time keeping the movie relevant to what we already think we know. These films were the true help for my idea, as the films include different takes on tombs, aliens and Egyptian Gods. I was first inspired by Predator as this movie is one of my favourite takes on an powerful alien species. Then I thought about tomb raider and I looked at the different features in the background and the surroundings which was amazingly helpful. However when it came to Gods of Egypt I recently watched this after we were given this assignment to try and get some different inspiration. When I watched it I couldn't get the idea of God like creatures living there, and them having some very powerful alien/God technology. I am very happy with my choices of films during my research period because it has helped me to be completely free thinking but to think about the environment like you have visited it.

Ref: https://www.ufologyonline.com/ancient-aliens-technology/

This picture really describes my theme to the fullest as I have chosen to do a mix up between an ancient Egyptian tomb with a futuristic pyramid. So by this I mean a very traditional ancient Egyptian themed tomb alongside with alien technology and alien type equipment. I wanted the viewer to get the feeling it was in space but at the same time it could be a different dimension. Unfortunately I wasn't able to show what I wanted to within my animation, which I am very gutted about, I hope my research behind my animation can give you an idea of what I wanted to achieve. 

-Room when I first started.

Above is a 'print screen' of my work when I was first working on my animation. You can see by the pillars where I am going with my room idea and see how I have stuck to my reference materials with the ancient Egyptian theme. I struggled to decided between making the tomb a cylinder or creating the tomb to have pointed edges to give it way more depth and to create the futuristic look I was hoping for. Instead I started with a cube and I was trying to figure out the best way to show it is a tomb even though it is squared. I then started to look back through this very blog, when it was first references images (you can see at the top of the page), it made me think about how I could add pillars to my room. With a few trial and errors I added them to the edges of the cube which actually took away the pointed futuristic look I was hoping for.

Below I found this image of an Earth projecting out of a control panel, when I saw this I immediately had to create one. The hologram I created was not to the best of my ability and I am not happy with how it turned out. However this image is what I was hoping for. I wanted a control panel area at the bottom of the tomb. I thought about having this little area because it showed to the viewer that these aliens are watching and maybe even controlling us especially by the hologram of the Earth.

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Ref: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/532972937136270409/

I chose to create my tomb with a sandstone texture to create the illusion you are in a place where there is both sand and stone. This then creates an image in the viewers mind and then gives them a reason to have there own take and judgement of what humans/aliens could be living there. When applying this texture to my tomb I had to decided where I needed it to be. I decided to have it around the whole building I had created, I also put it on to the stairs so it could look like the stairs have been there for a while but someone has been keeping them maintained.

Ref: https://www.123rf.com/photo_94049558_details-of-sandstone-texture-background-texture-of-stone-background.html

This is an image from the Internet I found to put on to my hologram. I saw this image and wanted it because to me it shows that the character I envisioned living here had a lot of power in controlling the Earth and also just keeping it safe. I wanted to make the hologram look like it was very powerful and only the species who live there can control it.

Ref: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjgxuntpaffAhWSzoUKHXESDF4QjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpiktoclub.com%2Fdownload%2Fsatellite-earth-map%2F&psig=AOvVaw1b9v9IgNpT-JnwQNwcKdM_&ust=1545150914651768

-Room with sandstone texture

This is a print screen, of one of the stages my tomb was in. You can see my Sandstone texture added. This image is a print screen before being in render view, that's why it is very messy texturing. I enjoyed laying the textures on to my building because it made the image come alive in my head but unfortunately I ran out of time to be able to make it up to the standard that was in my head. But for the look of the sandstone texture on and around the tomb I am very impressed with the decision I have made of it.

I originally wanted spikes to be animated coming out of the sides of the door after the door slams shut into place, this is to happen when there is some sort of breach. I wanted the defences to be a long vertical line of sharp thin blades/spikes that come through the sides of the door what then interlocks, making sure the middle is impossible to get through. Unfortunately I wasn't able to include them into my final animation and  I would have loved creating that and being able to present it in my animation.


Ref: https://www.123rf.com/photo_80885550_silhouette-arrow-sharp-spike-fence-on-white-background.html

-Final print screen of final rendered tomb.

This is my final print screen, of my final render view of my tomb. As you can see I included the Earth hologram which rotate in a clockwise motion. In the render view you can see how much better the sandstone has become. I am over all unhappy with my work on this module as it was not what I wanted it to look like. Unfortunately the only animation I was able to create in the time I set myself was the rotating clock. I know exactly where I went wrong with timing and some different problems, but I know exactly how I wanted it to look like and what I wanted animated. I hope by my blog you can see what I was aiming for.

In conclusion I enjoyed the task at hand and I am know prepared for the next one.
I hope you enjoy my ideas and my short animation of my Earth hologram rotating.  


Blog: https://kieraabazelya.blogspot.com/
References:

Gods of Egypt (2016) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404233/

Predator(2010) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1424381/

Tomb raider (2001) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146316/