3D Modeling & Animation

Planning & Storyboard

Concept/Story

The title of this piece is Soul of the Temple, based on the prompt "Echoes in the Forgotten Temple."

The concept behind this cutscene is that the ancient temple is being kept alive by the power of a magical crystal guarded deep within its walls. Even as the pillars start wearing down and vines creep out of the cracks in the walls, the crystal breathes life into the structure, bringing beauty out of the wreckage. The purpose of this cutscene is to reveal the source of the temple's life force, showing how it has lasted so long even when it is worn down. It is a demonstration of the crystal's power. The character in this animation is the crystal itself, which rises up and pulses with life as a light shines down on it from above. The crystal's influence on the Temple is clear even without dialogue as the carvings and cracks in the Temple glow with the same blue light as the crystal; the crystal is sharing its energy to keep the Temple standing.

Storyboard

Asset & Prop Design

• Gem: A shiny blue crystal.

• Pedestal: A pale stone pedestal carved with vertical grooves.

• Pillars: Four matching pillars holding up the room, worn down with age.

• Floor: The stone and dirt floor of the temple.

• Walls: Stone walls riddled with cracks.

• Vines: Green, leafy vines crawling up the walls.

• Rubble: Piles of stone scattered around the floor.

The Gem and Pillars will need more detailed models because of their more intricate designs. The Pillar in particular will need to have carvings and cracks that will require special attention.

The Gem will include a simple rig so that some of the larger spikes can be positioned in different ways, allowing for subtle movement in the gem as it rises.

The Gem will be designed to have large spikes coming out at several angles and a bold blue color that stands out against the background to signify it as powerful and important to the Temple.

Environment & Layout

The layout of this scene is located inside a room within the Temple held up by four pillars. Near the back, in the center of the room, there is a lone pedestal holding up a blue crystal. The room is worn down, covered in cracks and fallen rubble, vines growing on the walls. The first camera in the scene will be coming in from the side, turning to reveal the room and the pedestal in the center, introducing the viewer to the scene. The second camera will be next to the gem, giving a close up shot of it as the light appears and the gem starts to glow. The third camera will view a wide shot of the room, showing off the influence of the gem as the cracks in the wall start to glow. The layout is made to show the gem as a clear focal point, the most important object in the room, with the pillars almost framing it in a way. 

Artifact 1 - Character Design

Character Planning & Orthographic Hand Sketch

Modeled Character

Texturing & UVW

Reflection

Artifact 2 - Scene Assets

Review Your Prompt & Concept

Updated Asset List

• Asset 1

• Asset 2

• etc.

Original Assets

Gathered Assets

Finished Scene Layout

Reflection

Artifact 3 - Lights & Cameras

Lighting Plan

Lit Scene

Reflection

Artifact 4 - Animation

Animation Plan

Final Animated Project

Reflection