The Journey Begins Challenge (3D) Entry: Eric Albertson

[emajedi]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1142008246_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1142008246_large.jpg)

The Great Cheese Quest shows three quasi-futuristic mice as they prepare for their greatest adventure - the journey to the great cheese repository in the heart of their 3D habit-trail maze world. The leader (with a cyber cheese-fork arm), the muscle (holding his laser cheese cutter) and the brain (holding the remote to their "mouse" robot) huddle around the holographic map projector showing the route to the destination - the fulfillment of their greatest cheese dreams. There is excitement, fear, suspicion and anticipation on their faces. Subdued in the back, blending into the darkness behind the maze are the faces of two bespecled scientists who observe what is going on.

[emajedi]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1142008433_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1142008433_large.jpg)

These sketches provide a more detailed look at the accessories within the scene.

[emajedi]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1142008653_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1142008653_large.jpg)

This is an initial layout in Maya for the 3D habitrail maze to get a sense of the depth and vastness of the scene.

[emajedi]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1142008865_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1142008865_large.jpg)

This is an experiment using Maya's paintFX to achieve a realistic looking mouse fur. Without Maya Unlimited (with its fancy fur, fluids and cloth simulators) I am choosing to achieve a fur texture using the paintFX brushes. I may need to do a bit of tweaking, but I am pleased with the direction. I think this will be a viable solution.

[XxJR89xX]

haha, nice concept! Scientists beware!

[emajedi]

Thanks so much!!


haha, nice concept! Scientists beware!

[luigithekid]

Thats a nice concept. Maybe you should change the camera angle a bit to show more of the maze!

[ODoul]

That laser cheese cutter is a hoot! That alone merits a bookmark! Cool sketch too.

[kestas]

nice idea and the fur looks fantastic X]

[emajedi]

Thanks! That is a good idea!



Thats a nice concept. Maybe you should change the camera angle a bit to show more of the maze!

[varma]

Hi,
Very good furwork so far and I'm a dedicated fan to all sci_fi!
Good luck to you!
:)

[Selina42]

I think this is a great concept! I'm really impressed that this is a paintFX instead of fur! -I would never have known! Though there are some patches that look a little green that i would make more brown! Really looking forward to seeing your progress!

[emajedi]

Thanks! It has been fun to watch your project develop.

I actually tried out a grass brush from the paintFX tools (thus the green) as a trial to see if the shape/texture would look at all like fur. I did some quick (too quick) re-coloring in Photoshop to get it kind of brown. I think I may end up tweaking the brush and probably creating a new custom brush based on that, but that delivers the brown/gray colors.

Thanks!


I think this is a great concept! I'm really impressed that this is a paintFX instead of fur! -I would never have known! Though there are some patches that look a little green that i would make more brown! Really looking forward to seeing your progress!

[emajedi]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1147790972_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1147790972_large.jpg)

Well, we're getting close to the end. I have my mouse modeled and I am rigging him so that he will be more easily poseable.

[emajedi]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1147982112_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1147982112_large.jpg)

Here is a lit and textured version of the mouse.

[Womball]

This looks pretty cool! He kind of looks like the Flushed Away mice, or basically the style of the Aardman animation studio. Just a tad bit boxier. I really like the lighting and the shaders you have on.

[emajedi]

Womball,


Thanks! Lots of folks were doing realistic looking mice, so I decided to go a bit cartoon-y. I wanted a kind of velvety look for the main skin texture. Your entry is looking good too!

[Womball]

Thanks! Realism is a bit overdone imo, I think you can get more expressive with cartoons. You can push expressions and get away with it!

[emajedi]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1148738478_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1148738478_large.jpg)

Here is the second mouse - the brawnier older brother of the main mouse.

[emajedi]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1148738669_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1148738669_large.jpg)

The latest in cheese-cutting technology.

[emajedi]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1148739227_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1148739227_large.jpg)

Three adventursome mice prepare for the ultimate crime - to steal the cheese from the great cheese repository at the middle of their habitrail world. The Brave - sporting a cyber cheese-fork hand, The Brawn - brandishing his laser cheese cutter, and The Brain - controlling his computer-mouse droid TJB-XIX, are eager to pull off the crime of the century!

[emajedi]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1148739433_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/10858/10858_1148739433_large.jpg)

Just about there!

[emajedi]

Thanks for the note! Very true. Thanks so much for checking back in!



Thanks! Realism is a bit overdone imo, I think you can get more expressive with cartoons. You can push expressions and get away with it!

[Derferic]

It is an original idea, but the labyrinth misses a little of depth.






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