Project Review: The Phantom 2040: PART XLIV

A tall and Thin stylized Apple used as a Prop in the Animated Series.

For the Cake Prop I also added the wrapping and interlocking "vine" like shapes around the cake which was the theme used for the freeways wrapping the city buildings as a metaphor to the Ghost Jungle Vines.

A B.I.O.T would serve these drinks and delicacies to guests.

A tall and thin food tube which came out a vending machine in the first show.

And my favorite , a Calamari Burrito!

Phantom 2040-PART XLIV

Phantom Food

Client: Hearst Animation Productions.
Art Director: Myself.
Project Date Spring 1993.

In this 44th post on, Hearst Animations, "The Phantom 2040", I have posted some of the smaller props I d4esigned as food in the show.

When designing an entire futuristic world everything is designed to look like it fits in that world, and food was part of the design package.

As Art Director for the Television series, I came up with a tall and thin artistic theme that would work well with the Peter Chung characters we had designed that were 12 heads tall and gaunt or super thin, so it was natural to put these characters into a world that was stretched in height. We often talked of the analogy when you watch the credits on an old Cinema-Scope film on TV that they tend to squish the text in and all the people look super tall. This was the look we wanted stylized.

So the simple little food items lika an apple had to be a tall or thin looking apple and not round. You can view a few samples of items I designed for the series of 56 episodes above.

Cheers, THOM

Project Review: Marci-X 2003

A 3D Illustrated Platinum Jewelry Logo than was put around the necks of the main characters for the Poster Comps done for Art Director Coby Gewertz.

A Crystal Logo refracted thru the glassy surface done for Art Director Marcus Almaraz.

The 3D Illustrated Lipstick belts worn by Lisa Kudrow in the Poster wanted comps we did.

The 3D Illustrated Bullet belts worn by Damon Wayans in the Poster wanted comps we did.

I did an ornate silver frame for one idea as well.

Marci-X 2003

Client: Paramount Pictures via BLT and Associates.
Art Director(s): Coby Gewertz and Marcus Almaraz.
Project Date: Fall 2002.

I had a chance to do some 3D Illustration and a few 3D Logos for the film Marci-X back in 2002 while in-house at BLT in Hollywood CA. It was a story of a Jewish American Princess that has to run a Hip Hop Record Company so we had a fun time with some iconic images and even the logos.

It was a small job, at just a day or so, but I was able to make some fun logos with the necklace design above with the huge platinum title on a chain that was eventually put into a few comps over both main characters. I also did the big glass or crystal logo being held up in front of them both as an alternate design presented.

The belts of bullets and of lipstick were for some side by sides where Lisa Kudrow had Lipstick while Damon Wayans got the banditas bullets.

I also did some 3D framing devices for some concepts as well shown above. A small but fun project.

Here is a link to the IMDB page as this was an unknown film with a small release.

Cheers, THOM

Project Review: Battle Los Angeles MainTitle Design

Here is the 3D render I used as a "grid" to sketch over the rough concept for approval, about 1 Hr.

Here is the final sketch for the free standing scaffolding concept finished in about 3 Hrs

We did a negative space version with a wall of rusted tin and steel, and you can see the 3D grid underneath the overlay sketch I presented for approval to move ahead.

The final Concept Design sketch I did for the Title

BATTLE LOS ANGELES
2D Sketches foe the Title Logo

Client: Columbia Picture via Greenhausgfx.
Art Director(s): Helen Greene, and Steven Viola.
Project Date: May 2010.

I always love to get a fun Conceptual Designing sketch job, and the bulk of my work these days is 3D Illustration, so when this came along I was very excited to get on with the design.

Battle Los Angeles was a logo concept that I did for Helen Greene owner of Greenhausgfx, and because it was a pitch it was decided to present the concept is sketch form before attempting to build out in 3D as the design was a very detailed concept for a 3D Logo.

You will see above the under drawing that I used which was a 3D render to get the font and perspective right, I put a grid material on it and printed it out and drew over the top using the 3D render as my "grid" for the 2D sketch.

I did a positive and negative space concept on the same font built out of distressed and busted up scaffolding and girders with sheet metal and concrete chucks lying around. would have been a fun 3D model to complete.

Cheers, THOM

Project Review: The Accidental Spy 2002

The Final Logo used for the Poster and DVD marketing for the film.

Here is the final Design we presented[ with a bit of motion blur]

A fun concept with the kicker in the letter A.

A concept with a handgun hidden in the "T" in the title.

Here is what became the final after we kicked out the letter a bit and knocked off some chucks, but at this time it was a clean bent 3D Logo.

A similar font to what we finished for Spy Kids with a similar red look as well.

A two level metal logo with a bullet line running the entire length of the logo showing the holding device below.

The Accidental Spy

Client: Dimension Films via BLT and Associates.
Art Director: n/a
Project Date: Winter 2001-2002

One of my early projects while running a small 3D department at BLT and Associated, was a direct to video release of the Jackie Chan Action Film The Accidental Spy.

I first tackled the main logo as a 3D Illustration in late 2001, and the work proceeded almost to spring of 2002 when we had a final finished 3D Logo done for the campaign. Even though this was a direct to DVD release we did some very large banners so I had to render the final logo out at about 9K in width which is double the One sheet 30 sheet resolution, and back in 02, that took a good 12 Hrs to render out.

What was nice in this job is they allowed us to finish the logo while having a bit of fun with it in the Jackie kicks the logo and breaks some bits off as well as bumping the letters around. A nice change to a typical straight extruded metal logo.

Cheers, THOM

Project Review"The Phantom 2040 PART XLIII

A Close up detail on the wing mounted guns animating and transforming out of the body of the Jet.

A close view on the center of the Jet as the openings reveal the Phantom Icon skull "eyes" as we to a rotating truck out with the camera.

A body barrel roll of the jet.

A VFX of a pixelation transformation as we reveal the full skull icon hidden on the Jet.

Phantom 2040-PART XLIII

Flying Wing Transformation Storyboards

Client: Hearst Animation Productions.
Art Director: Myself.
Project Date Spring 1993.

In this 43rd post on, Hearst Animations, "The Phantom 2040", I have posted some of the storyboards I did for the opening title sequence for the show.

These are a few pages that were sadly cut out of the opening sequence that hilighted the flying wing vehicle that the Phantom rode in and this showed it transforming into battle mode and revealing the skull silhouette. Having designed out the vehicle first, I then designed the parts that come out from the vehicle and the way that the parts form the skull. We only had a few seconds to to this and I boarded ou6t a few cuts of the action. Enjoy.

Cheers, THOM

Project Review:The Perfect Score

A Virtual Illustration of a School Roof-Top with Security Cameras, the cast stood on the edge in the comp.

A "Sit in the Corner" concept with a classroom chalkboard scene for the cast to be placed in.

A fun concept of a Number 2 pencil bent into a crow bar to steal the answers.

The SAT test close up 3D Illustration above had the full cast running away from the giant pencil in the comp, as if it was chasing them down for stealing.

The Perfect Score

Client: Paramount Pictures via BLT and Associates.
Art Director:n/a
Project Date: Summer and Fall 2002.

I had a chance to work on the print campaign for the film, "The Perfect Score "which is a story of a group of Seniors in High School who decide to steal the SAT score sheet, hence to get a "perfect Score".
Conceptually the crow-bar with a #2 pencil hit the mark for an icon and it doubled as the letter "S" in a few comps as well. I also did some virtual sets with a very quick turn around and had to design, build and render out a few within a day. The "Sit in the Corner" comp was based on the "Dunce Cap" idea It was a fun project to work on. I also built out a roof top and a few more areas for various Art Directors.

It is fun to look back at early projects as you can see with the Talent, almost all the main stars have gone far since the film.

Cheers, THOM

Project Review: The Phantom 2040-PART XLII- More Cutaways

The original rough sketch for the little Fan Pod.

The final design sketch front and back of the One Man Flying Pods I designed.

The is the main Exterior shot of a Police Hypercruiser in driving Mode.

Here is the Six Person Interior overlay for the above Police Hypercruiser.

An Older design for a Hypercruiser for The Phantom.

The Interior for the above Hypercruiser with floating spring mounted seats.

Phantom 2040-PART XLII

More Vehicle Cutaway Interiors

Client: Hearst Animation Productions.
Art Director: Myself.
Project Date Spring 1993.

In this 42nd post on, Hearst Animations, "The Phantom 2040", I have posted some more of the design sketches that I did for some of the main vehicles used in the Animated TV Series.

Vehicle design in general is fun and in the series we use these vehicles on a regular basis so the animators in France, Canada, and South Korea needed reference for the interior scenes they would be laying out for the shows.

My favorite vehicle is posted here as well the flying fan powered "Pod". As an avid Old VW collector I have always loved the flower bud vase found in the VW bugs of old and even was brought back for the New Beetle as well,and that is where my inspiration came from, as these would land in little "egg cups" strategically placed in the city like bike racks. FUN, I wish they were real now!

Cheers, THOM

Project Review: Freddy vs. Jason Part I

A rough Metal Icon Mark I did for Art Director Scott Painter.

A Shiny clean Icon for Art Director Scott Painter.

A Cast Iron with a sanded flat top Icon for Art Director Hunger Lam.

A Layered Logo with red glass layers separating the steel done for Art Director Hunger Lam.

A very rough tin sided Logo as the most beat up version we did.

A corroded Metal Logo on a steel wall done for Art Director Hunger Lam.

Project Review
Freddy vs. Jason 2002
PART I

Client: New Line Cinema via BLT and Associates.
Art Director:Hunger Lam, and Scott Painter.
Project Date: Fall 2002.

While still doing 3D Illustration over at BLT and Associates I had a chance to do a few Teaser Poster Icons for the new match up film Freddy vs. Jason taking two American Horror film Icons, Freddy Kruger from A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Jason Vorhees from the Friday the 13th franchise, and pitting them against each other.

They decided to go with the shorter F vs J for the Icons and I did about a dozen or so with these above examples showing the large range we explored in various materials and states of disrepair. A fun project.

Look for additional posts in the future!

Cheers, THOM

Project Review: Virtual Magic Kingdom PART V

One of my first Disney Interactive sketches for the Virtual Magic Kingdom Project.

A Side view for the 3D Department Modelers to follow the design for.

The Storyboard Sequence I designed for the transformation from a flag pole to a Gargoyle in the interstitial films for the Game.

Disney Interactive: VMK
Virtual Magic Kingdom DVD Game
Hub Gargoyles Part V

Client: Disney Interactive
Art Director: Myself
Project Date: Summer 1996

This fifth post in my series on the Virtual Magic Kingdom [ VMK] project I did for Disney Interactive back in 1996, this post covers a small early job I did for the project while still a freelance Conceptual Designer. In the hub at the Castle the flag poles grow out and become Gargoyles in the teaser bumper film.

First I designed out the Gargoyles themselves as there was one per spire and they eventually crawled down and shut the gates. I then designed the animation and transformation sequence via the storyboards above for the animation department to build and bring to life.

Cheers, THOM

Project Review: Transformers[ Pitch 2006] PART I

A Blocky Flat Extrusion with a Carbon Fiber Holding Plate Design.

A Single-Point-Beveled Text version of the Transformers Logo.

Autobot and Decepticon Icons built out in 3D.

An edge-lit One Sheet Teaser Image we did for the Presentation.

Optimus-Prime was a snub-nosed Peterbuilt in the Animated Show so I built that in 3D for the AV work.

An up angle on the Peterbuilt Truck from the animation.

A Side Shot of the Animation.

Project Review
TRANSFORMERS
PART I

Client: Paramount Pictures via The Cimarron Group.
Art Director: Myself.
Project Date: Spring 2006

While running the 3D Design and Animation Department at The Cimarron Group we did a small pitch to try and get some Transformers work for the studio. This was before any design work was let out on the film itself, so we had to make it up including the Logos and Optimus Prime based on the 80's cartoon vehicles that existed already.

We did an AV motion piece that has some moves on the Peterbuilt Truck which is what was used in the TV show, and with a resident expert Tom Kositchotitana in Motion Graphics he taught us all about the world of the the Autobots.

It was a fun experiment and I got to build a truck which as a Transportation Designer, any time you get to deal with wheels and a motor, this is good for me.

Look for added posts in the future!

Cheers, THOM