2D Animation Concept Designs: Background Layout, Storyboard Frames, Characters, Props and Vehicles

2D Animation Concept Designs: Characters.Proof Sheets of work I have done in the 2D Animation space over my career

 

2D Animation Concept Designs: Vehicles.Proof Sheets of work I have done in the 2D Animation space over my career

2D Animation Concept Designs: Background Layout, Storyboard Frames.Proof Sheets of work I have done in the 2D Animation space over my career

 

2D Animation Concept Designs: Props. Proof Sheets of work I have done in the 2D Animation space over my career

 

 2D Animation Concept Designs

Background Layouts, Storyboard Frames, Characters, Props and Vehicles 

       Today I am posting some Proof Sheets of work I have done in the 2D Animation space over my career. I started right out of Art Center working in 2D Animation before I really focused into 3D work with 3D Logo Design, 3D Illustrations, and 3D Animations that take up the bulk of my work.  

TV 2D Animation work:
Phantom 2040: ABC: 62 Episodes,Pre-Production, Pilot and Film.
New Adventures of Flash Gordon: ABC: 26 episodes, Pre-Production
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child. HBO 26 Episodes

       I really miss the 2D side of my art, and rarely get a paying gig anymore to use that skill. I still do love to draw and miss using this skill set as much as I was able to to in the past. There are some sketches that were not in 2D Animation mixed in for Theme Park work, as well as a few Walt Disney Imagineering pieces too here as well.

Most of the Images in these sheets are posted here on my blog full sized. Here are some searches to try:

Sketching:        https://3dconceptualdesigner.blogspot.com/search/label/Sketching

Napkin Sketches:    https://3dconceptualdesigner.blogspot.com/search/label/Napkin%20Sketching

Phantom 2040:        https://3dconceptualdesigner.blogspot.com/search/label/Phantom%202040

Flash Gordon:     https://3dconceptualdesigner.blogspot.com/search?q=flash+Gordon+

 

     I am currently still doing freelance as I hunt for a full-time place to work at, so if you need a bid for a 3D Illustration or 3D Logo, or a 3D Model feel free to contact me for a quote. I am open to Hourly gig's, Work Retainers, Part-time, and Full Time opportunities [ Open to relocation ] would be best. I have worked remote since 2009, so I am ready to help you.

                                 Cheers, THOM

Project Review: 3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos- April 2018 PART II

 

3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos-Concept #1 has Neon bulbs and a sign with all broken bulbs and just light sockets left. This was a fun design to come up with, my personal fave.

3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos- Screen Grab in Clay Shader showcasing the Geometry surface- This shows the Quad Polygon base-mesh build out for the Title treatment.

 

3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos- Screen Grab in Clay Shader showcasing the Geometry surface- This shows the Quad Polygon Sub-D [ subdivided]-mesh build out for the Title treatment.

 

 

 

 

 3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos- I like to include an Ambient / Dirt Shader pass for realistic lighting as well as geometry intersections for adding in aged details based on the forms.

 

 

 

3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos- a Z-Depth mask giving pixel information in 256 levels of grey for selections based on distance from camera. See here.

 

 

 

 3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos- I did a Neon render and light bulb render pass with Photoshop glow effects that were live and adjustable to the client.

 

 

 

3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos-The blocked by letter, number, and word Color Picker Layer for fast selection based on object groups.

3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos- The second Color Picker Layer was for the neon glow object inside the glass tubes for a double glow effect. Based on object.
 

 

 

3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos- The third Color Picker Layer for the outer neon glass selection.

 

3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos- Screen Grab in Clay Shader showcasing the Geometry surface- This is a worms eye view looking up at the Neon sign build.

 3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos- A bird's Eye down view close on the T in toy as a shaded viewport Screen Grab showing transparency with internal filaments in the bulbs and the glow object Neon tubes.

 

 

 

 3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos- Same bird's Eye down view Screen Grab in Clay Shader showcasing the Geometry surface-

 

 

 

 3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos-Shaded Screen Grab showing transparency with internal filaments in the bulbs and the glow object Neon tubes. This showcases the letter Y in Toy with empty sockets as well as bulb bases with glass insulators and busted sign components.

 

 

 

 3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos- Screen Grab in Clay Shader showcasing the letter Y in Toy as above in surface only with wireframe resolution.

 

 

 

 3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos- Concept #2 was crunchy paint with dents and rust. this was the rougher of the two

 

 

3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main Title 3D Logos-Concept #3 was a much cleaner version with just light bubbling rust on the painted tin letters.

Project Review

3D Rustic Toy Story 4 Key Art Proof of Concept Main 3D Logos

April 2018

PART II
 

Client:  PIXAR/ Walt Disney Feature Animation via Cold Open
Creative Direction:  Andrey Rubey 
Project Date:  April 2018.

     This is my second post for work that I did on Toy Story 4, and this work is for another Agency I do freelance for with Andrew Rubey at Cold Open These designs went a very different direction from a key story point in the film, of having the toys in an antique thrift shop. They wanted them to be broken rusty and aged logos. They ultimately went with shiny clean versions, so these are just proof of concept pieces.

     As a 3D Artist, doing anything for PIXAR is an honor as they were trailblazers in the field of 3D Animation which helped mainstream the technology to where it is at today as now it's considered common place.

 

     I also posted Behind the Art images with wire frames and Clay shader screen grabs as well as textured ones to show form and transparency in each. I have always loved neon signs, and to have vintage nipple bulbs as well uses many vintage sign themes in the concepts.

    With neon, I create both the exterior glass tube, that's two sided with a 3DSmax Shell modifier added to the spline to give it a glass thickness in neon signs. I also build out a second internal object spline that that represents the gas inside the tube that glows, and this is where I put the self illumination glow on so it refracts a bit through the tube glass. I also add color to the glass itself to simulate color bleed. You see above the multiple Color -Pickers I give the client to add more glow as needed, masked and ready to go.
 

    I did three main concepts, and we went to 3K for the top design they wanted to show. As proof of concept it did not finish, but it was a fun run around the block as I got to create and explore this look to such a clean and shiny logo. I have aged logos in the past many times, and you can see in a proof sheet here.

You can View PART I here done for Leroy and Rose.

 

     I am back full time doing freelance as I hunt for a full-time place to work at, so if you need a bid for a 3D Illustration or 3D Logo, or a 3D Model feel free to contact me for a quote. I am open to Hourly gig's, Work Retainers, Part-time, and Full Time opportunities [ Open to relocation ] would be best. I have worked remote since 2009, so I am ready to help you.

                                 Cheers, THOM

Project Review: Key Art 3D Logo Title Treatment Proof of Concept and Finish for Shazam

 

 

 Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Here is the final finished 3D delivery to the agency. They did a lot of post adjustments using the Color picker selection layer I provided below. They turned the lightning bolt frame gold using the chrome pass below as well.

 

 

 

Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Here is the Ambient / Dirt 3D Render pass provided for post effects for more realistic non direct lighting of the surfaces, as well as adding in darkness into the cracks and crevasse for more rich color appearance and lighting enhancements.

 

 

 

Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Here is the Z-Depth mask a 256 level mask for 3D depth based adjustments, perfect for rack focus lens effects and saturation or atmosphere as well.

Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Here is a color picker Layer both by object and by sub-object faces so I could grab the mini bevels on the logo. Even a simple blocked logo can have extra little areas to catch the glints of light like this.

 

 

Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Here is a Screen Grab Clay textured frame from the Camera viewport showing the lights on each letter to dial it in just right.

 

 

 

Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Here is a screen grab with the material Editor open as well as the sample material ball with the procedural "Crust" I used to create the Lava Lighting bolt texture. 

 

Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Here are the edges I hand beveled after the first pass blocking model was done and good proportionally with the client.

 

 

Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Here in this Clay Shader Screen Grab you can see the slight bend I did to the logo to roll it around the lightning Bolt Icon a bit. This is something I learned when I did the Superman Shield for Superman Returns in 2006 to emulate the shield rolling over a barrel chest. I repeated that look here.

 

 

 

Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Here I backed up farther to show the spot lights in this Screen Grab.

 

 

 

 

Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Here is a higher Bird's Eye screen grab showing the distance I moved the text out from the Icon.

 

Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Here is a near top down on the title the background sphere does not render but is seen in the refection.


 

Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Here is the last Screen Grab showing the Cebas- Final Render Rectangular Lights I used top and bottom with render in render pass turned on so they show up in the edges. I love these box lights they are a go to light I use all the time. 

 

 

 

 

 Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Here is my personal favorite not finished Proof of Concept. This one is much darker and has that Lava texture with a volumetric light coming out as well. Nearly black faces but they are actually a dark Candy Red as seen in the upper material editor image. I also used a chrome render pass overlay from below.

 

 

 

 Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Here I added a ribbed texture to the Bolt.I also did softer raised bevels with materials consistent with Black Carbon Fiber and a woven red to match the suit on the edges. A softer 3D Logo alternate.

 

 

Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Here is the Chrome pass I rendered out to layer over the full color pass I did. I hotter top light was used on this one.

Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Finished Teaser.

 

 

Key Art 3D Logo Finish for Shazam- Finished Payoff from Cold Open.

 

 

Project Review

 Key Art 3D Logo Title Treatment Proof of Concept and Finish for Shazam

 

Client:  Warner Bros. Pictures via Cold Open
Creative Direction: Gardner DeFranceaux
Project Date:  January 2018.

     Back in the Winter of 2018 I was hired freelance to make 3D versions of the title treatment for the new superhero film from DC Shazam.Today I am posting both Proof of Concept work, as well as final finished 3D Titles used for the marketing and all advertising for the film.

     The main Key Art Title 2D illustrator vector file was already locked in mostly when I came aboard and they wanted me to do a 3D version of the title for the teaser as well as the final finished posters and key Art for the film.  I had actually done logos for this property directly for DC comics years prior and as a kid I did read the comics so I was ready to go.

    I again have some Behind the Art here as I took screen grabs in a flat Clay Shader to show the logo forms. I did an extra mini edge bevels to catch highlights on the blocked letters. I also gave a Color Picker layer so the Creative team could easily grab those edges with a mask to add shire as well. The Lava material inside the Proof of Concept was my favorite version as it was also very dark red , nearly black in areas. I used Dark Tree to build out the procedural lit texture with a volumetric light aimed at camera.

     Many thanks go out to Gardner there at Cold Open for allowing me to post these fun projects over the last decade. A quick 3-4 day project and a fast turn around as most Theatrical Advertising is.

     I am currently doing freelance as I hunt for a full-time place to work at, so if you need a bid for a 3D Illustration or 3D Logo, or a 3D Model feel free to contact me for a quote. I am open to Hourly gig's, Work Retainers, Part-time, and of course a Full Time opportunity [ Open to relocation ] would be best. I have worked remote since 2009, so I am ready and experienced to help you.

                                 Cheers, THOM

Project Review: 3D Key Art The Christmas Chronicles: 3D Logo and typeface Finished Title Treatment PART I

 

 

 

3D Key Art The Christmas Chronicles: 3D Logo and typeface Finished Title Treatment- This is the final finished design for posters and Key Art for Netflix. I really enjoyed doing the filigree inset panels in the title. They have a Victorian and Old world tone to them.

 

3D Key Art The Christmas Chronicles: 3D Logo and typeface Finished Title Treatment- I often render and Ambient / Dirt render pass in 3D to add realistic lighting and accumulation of grit in the intersections and cracks in the geometry to ass some not so polished loos. I did that for this project to reflect Santa's real age.

3D Key Art The Christmas Chronicles: 3D Logo and typeface Finished Title Treatment- a Z-Depth Mask render is very useful and easy to use in Photoshop.

 

 

 

3D Key Art The Christmas Chronicles: 3D Logo and typeface Finished Title Treatment- This is a Color-Picker render I add if requested. This is object based so the Creative Director can have pre-selected masks based by object. This Smart 3D as I call it is why 3D renders save massive masking times and are accurate to the anti-aliased pixel  level.

3D Key Art The Christmas Chronicles: 3D Logo and typeface Finished Title Treatment- A Viewport Clay Shader Screen Capture grab leaves out textures and color information to focus on just the surface, here is a Camera view of the wireframe build out of this title.

 

 

 

 

3D Key Art The Christmas Chronicles: 3D Logo and typeface Finished Title Treatment-Another View-port Clay Shader Screen Capture front view from the camera without the frame gate on to see the lighting spotlights on the wireframe build out of this title.

 

3D Key Art The Christmas Chronicles: 3D Logo and typeface Finished Title Treatment- This Clay Shader Screen Capture overhead view shows camera postilion and lighting.

 

 

 

3D Key Art The Christmas Chronicles: 3D Logo and typeface Finished Title Treatment-This Clay Shader Screen Capture is a close up on the Left side of the title showing the extrusion depth.

 

 

 

 

3D Key Art The Christmas Chronicles: 3D Logo and typeface Finished Title Treatment- A lower close up angle on the shaded wireframe screen grab really shows the weight of the letters in 3D.

 

 

 

 

3D Key Art The Christmas Chronicles: 3D Logo and typeface Finished Title Treatment- A rendered screen grab with the filigree texture map seen in the sample sphere, as well as the custom build etching texture map used as a bump / specular map that was taken from the film reference.

 

 

 

 

3D Key Art The Christmas Chronicles: 3D Logo and typeface Finished Title Treatment- Here is one of four complete 3D rendered typefaces I did for the film. Two regular, and two bold, one set in italics for each font weight.

 

 

 

3D Key Art The Christmas Chronicles: 3D Logo and typeface Finished Title Treatment-Here is a close up on the file which was rendered out for a 16K wide massive file. You will notice on the second row down I did a set with no internal filigree. This is what they used in the Sequel.

 

 

 

3D Key Art The Christmas Chronicles: 3D Logo and typeface Finished Title Treatment-Here is another  close up on the file which was rendered out for a 16K wide massive file. This shows international letters needed so they could construct most titles needed at the time.

 

 

Project Review

 3D Key Art  The Christmas Chronicles:

3D Logo and typeface Finished Title Treatment
PART I 
 

Client:  Netflix via Cold Open
Creative Direction: Gardner DeFranceaux
Project Date:  September 2018.

     Back in the Fall of 2018 I was put on the Netflix Holiday Film The Christmas Chronicles. I worked on the project for a few weeks developing a variety of title treatments, that were proof of concept. Today's post is covering just the final finished 3D Logo used for the main titles as well as the entire alphabet for the film credits. I will post a Part II covering my Proof of Concept iteration work in the near future.

     I really have loved doing freelance for 16 years for the Cold Open agency, and I always get really fun 3D illustrations and 3D Logo concepts from the fantastic team there. I am a huge Kurt Russell fan, so doing this fun title was a pleasure to participle in. I do a lot of 3D Logos, and I definitely enjoy fancy ornate ones like what was needed for this film. Big blocked out san-serif metal 3D Logos are a staple in Key Art, especially for Superhero Film type of work and action titles. But this had a flair to match the film and the nostalgic era that Christmas design looks back at in American Film.

 

     The main Key Art design was to get a title locked in. Gold, copper, and filigree engraving were taken from the film production design, especially from Santa's sled. The filigree itself was a direct lift from the main prop used in the film on Santa's sled in the metal. The overall warmth was all matched to the film palette.

    I took a number of screen grabs in a flat Clay Shader to show the sculpture forms I made for the ornate title, as well as a screen grab of the Final Render shader using the filigree engravings from his sled. A Behind the Art post is for those wanting to see the process and actual geometry in a build.

     Many thanks go out to Gardner there at Cold Open for bringing me on for these project based roles. Please do take a trip over to the site at the link to see the impressive work they do! The Typeface I created for the first film was used for The Christmas Chronicles 2 as well.

     I am currently full time doing freelance as I hunt for a full-time place to work at, so if you need a bid for a 3D Illustration or 3D Logo, or a 3D Model feel free to contact me for a quote. I am open to Hourly gig's, Work Retainers, Part-time, and of course a Full Time opportunity [ Open to relocation ] would be best. I have worked remote since 2009, so I am ready and experienced to help you.

                                 Cheers, THOM