Inspiration

[RUSirius]

Wow! That's a loaded question:)

For me inspirations comes from everywhere. movies, nature, architecture, games, art and of course other 3d projects from other artists. All of these combined with my imagination.

To go about turning it into a model, for me, involes concept art. From simple sketches to complex renderings. I never do a model without some sort of reference. Some people can just sit down with an idea in their head and turn it into a fantastic model. Not this kid. I'm still too new to 3D and unfamiliar with all of the workings of Wings to be able to do it like that.

If you find inspiration hard just look around and find things that interest you. Try to find simple things first because if you try off the bat to do something complex you'll most likely get frustrated and give up. If you start simple you'll get results faster and it will push you to improve and go further.

Hope this helps.

[Fro Lee]

For me, I go about making a character and then the model to embody the character. The first thing that I want to consider is how I would like to make potential audiences feel. It is important that people should be able to relate to the characters that you create on some level. So the question is: how does putting yourself in the characters shoes make you feel? What aspect of human nature do they personify that makes it easy to relate to the character. That is pretty much what you are doing when you watch a movie or play a video game.

For example, Darth Vader makes audiences feel powerful. The want of power is a element in human nature that we can all relate to. Morpheus from the matrix makes audiences feel knowledgable. It is this knowledge that gives him an edge over enemies - keeping him one step ahead. He represents parent figures - people that we look up to or want to become. Gollum on the other hand, represents the addictions that we all have (reminds me of Macbeth in that respect). Despite wrong doing, this cunning character relates to things that we have lost(youth, money, knowledge, family, friends, dreams) and ambitions that we sacrifice for. Its not just the great animation, it is the fact that gollum relates to key elements in human nature. Another example would be the Marlin, the father in finding nemo. The overprotective parent character is easy to relate to. For this reason, people start to care that the father finds his son because in the same situation, you would be just as dedicated. Shrek relates to the ugly side that we all feel we have; a side that is often misunderstood. These are just characters that come to mind, there are endless examples of these kind of characters.

If you are unable to relate to the character, or are just not able to put yourself in their shoes then there is a big problem. Even bad guys should either be liked or loathed but there is nothing worse than a mediocre opponent.

In this respect the innovation of a character comes from the story behind him. After you have come up with what aspect(s) of humanity that the character will personify in order for the audience to relate to them, begin developing a back-story explaining why/how he or she became this way. This back story will serve as the inspiration for many of the nitty gritty details of the 3d model and will help develop the world that the character(s) live in.

For example:
Off the top of my head lets make up a character:

Lets play off being naive/innocent in a world of change (kind of like how a child is naive) and having to grow up prematurely/ accept responsibility.

Lets also play with the idea of being traditionally trained in an isolated a technical world.

Lets make up a back-story:
___________________________________________________________________________
In true mad lib style:

In the year 2506, there is a small village at the foot of the isolated mountains of Nrojbnrojb (yeah I made it up). This village upholds the values that were prominent in the 21st century. It is a peaceful farming village with comparably minimal technology as the rest of the world. The village values social relationships over technology and has tried to resist the changes of the modern world and the corruption/sin they ushered in. Within the village there is a small band of pilots who act as guardians for the village by assuring its safety. Among them is a 30 year old pilot named Tiger. Tiger is renown for his piloting skills. Tiger just married his high-school girl friend a year ago and after a long day at work rushes home to find that his wife has delivered a beautiful baby boy (or girl really does not matter). Unfortunately, the birth has left the wife in a weak state. They decide to name the child Jesse after his grandfather. That night, the alarm sounds and the child is left in the grandfather's care while the father flies out. That was the last that was ever seen of Tiger. The next night, the village is attacked by an unknown enemy. The grandfather manages to escape with the child into the neighbouring Eavateg mountains after a long, perilous journey. Deep in the heart of the Eavateg mountains, the grandfather teaches Jesse the ways of life, knowledge of food preparation, hunting, tracking, politics, sciences, math, and the way of the sword (because he obviously has to become some amazing warrior of some sort). On the boys 17th birthday, the grandfather dies of old age. On his death bed, he tells Jesse the name of the village in which Jesse was born. After a royal burial, Jesse sets out to find companionship in a nearby village of eedeerhtsgniw (1000 miles away) where he meets a family who are kind enough to take him in. After 3 months, helping on their farm as well as doing odd jobs like sewing a hole in the daughter of the family's broken doll, the father of the family and some friends meet with Jesse to discuss a giant army that spread like a dark plague and that will threaten the village. Learning about They talk about 10 villages that have already fallen and how they will be next. One of these villages was the village in which Jesse was born. The following night, Jesse sets out to the Nrojbnrojb mountains to find what remains. All he finds is a sword and a picture of his father tiger. A week later, Jesse returns to the eedeerhtsgniw village to find it burnt to dust. He sees the doll that he sewed lying in the snow. A dying survivor tells Jesse that the village has been taken hostage to the airim fortress(far far away oooohhhhhh) and that the enemy is looking for something (it probably going to end up being Jesse's sword that he found). Jesse nurses him back to life. At first, Jesse does not want to set out in vengeance (being the naive kid that he is). With all that he loves taken from him, Jesse sets out to find this unknown enemy and rescue the family that took him in.

Along the way there just happens to be technologically advanced ennemies/monsters/machines randomly littered across the countryside, as well as varying weather conditions.


Can Jesse triumph with his primitive technology and smarts against asymptotically technologically advanced beings?
Will Jesse ever see his family again?

___________________________________________________________________________

Okay, it is a garbage story - but it at least gives you a good basis to come up with some concept art. Because the character exists in your mind now, it is now the matter of going through an iterative process until you have a concept sketch that you feel best embodies your character. Then and only then should you start creating the model in wings3d. There is nothing worse than a character model with no character.

I bet that just by reading that you began to picture the Jesse character in your head. It also gives you a good basis for adding details. For example, if Jesse lived off the land how does that affect his physique? Jesse is naive and optimistic, how will that be shown in the character. How will this optimism affect future decisions? When you look at Jesse's silhouette, how will it be distinct and yet represent Jesse's child-growing-up like character. Jesse has made mile long journeys on foot, and is probably comfortable with nature do to his hunting training - how will that be shown in his attire. etc …

Since the character's personal story is the driving factor behind inspiration during the creation process, one should not overlook this step. It is ultimately what makes the character personal, and easy to relate to.

As Bay said in his character modelling tutorial:
"People often generate stereotypical characters based on a few criteria:* angry with a gun,* big boobs and a huge head, scales and teeth--all characteristics which are ultimately impersonal.* These criteria are part of the character description, not the character description.*"

And check out:
http://cube.phlatt.net/home/spiraloid/tutorial/design.html

Hope this helps.

- Fro.

[RUSirius]

Fro that was excellet!

You have opened my eyes more and helped me. Thank you! :buttrock:

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