27 replies to this topic

[Verafx81]

Hi all, My name is John Rivera and I've been working since September on a 3D animated Sonic fan project. I wanted to ask if you all would help me by giving me some feedback on some of my designs.
This is my Facebook link where I post my progress http://www.facebook....100003098056757
This is my Youtube page where I have the MotoBug complete and animated http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqZMYaIPuOA&context=C3cd403bADOEgsToPDskIjmik-zRK6TpTSb6US8U1p
And finally this is my website where I have my complete Portfolio http://www.verafx81.com

Right now I'm focusing on a short 8 minute give or take scene between Sonic and a MotoBug. I would love for true fans to tell me what they think of my Sonic design while I'm still in the middle of making it and can make changes as I please. But remember I'm going for a much more dark and more realistic design.

I am not satisfied with the way Sonic is portrayed in Games and TV, I feel that the character didn't evolve the way I imagined. Rather than complain about it I thought if you want something done right.... you do it yourself.
I'm working on this project alone so far, I started late September 2011 and I work on it durring my spare time. I would love to finish this sometime in 2013.

..... I hope thats everything, if not ask away I love to discuss things.
oh and the programs I'm using are Maya, Mudbox, Photoshop, After Effects.

[RedAuthar]

I have to say Motobug looks good.

[Tennyo]

The animation seems well done, however, I'm not sure about the design. Are all of those spider legs really necessary?

Such as, what is their true function? Is there a special all-sides attack that they are for?

[RedAuthar]

It's so the Robot can go over terrain not accessible by a wheel.

[Tennyo]

Yeah that could make sense.

[Verafx81]

Well I should explain. I wanted to have the Badniks represent bugs and animals for the camouflage and element of surprise. The story I wrote is about Robotnik trying to locate the Chaos Emeralds but the inhabitants of Planet Mobius fight back (Freedom Fighters), so he resorts to using these replicas of real Mobian bugs and animals to spy and surprise his enemies....... so, with that said, I had to create a bug Called a MoboBug and they travel in herds but if you look closely there may be a MotoBug in its ranks.

Now as for physical properties it can attack from all sides. I'm thinking of giving it an attack where it spins like a tornado with blades. I would like to (after accomplishing this) create more bugs, animals and there counterpart bots to fill Mobius's diverse population.

When I used to play sonic 1 I always wondered about the enemies, why were they in the form of Fish, Crabs, etc? I just made the same story in my head. And I think its a pretty cool reason.

[RedAuthar]

I always figured Robotnik liked the game of him vs Sonic so he made his machines like animals in an attempt to make the game more interesting.

[Verafx81]

I always figured Robotnik liked the game of him vs Sonic so he made his machines like animals in an attempt to make the game more interesting.

Yes he is a prideful man, I like that cause it makes things interesting and from the SatAM I like when Snively gets agitated lol.
Since this is a work in progress the story is always being added to and some things being taken away. One of the questions that I often receive is why doesn't Dr. Robotnik bomb them or Nuke them, then game over and the Emeralds are his? There are several answers I could come up for this like...
1. It would be easier to enslave the planets lifeforms so they would retrieve the Emeralds for him. Maybe mobius is 1.6 times the size of the earth with less bodies of water.
2. Pride, he would rather outsmart his opponents.... this is part of his character.
3. Somehow if you destroy most of the planets life the emeralds would be useless.
4. Who wants to rule over a baron world.
5. He cannot unlock the power of the Chaos and strives to learn how to do so.
I'm sure I can think of more but I may use a couple of these to justify why he doesn't just Nuke Mobius.

I have to rewrite my story a few more times still, Its actually more of a script than story.... I hate Sonic stories, I find scripts to be much more interesting. I'll admit though it doesn't have the mood but I plan on doing animatics to get all of that in.
Maybe people wont visualize what I see when I show them the script. Well thats why its an open project. It'll be fun to change things up for the better.

[RedAuthar]

I think 2 and 4 are pretty much every incarnation of every super-genius villain.

[saber16]

I really like it! I'd love to see more darker takes on badniks from the older games for some time, and this just makes me want to see more.

Keep it up!

[Verafx81]

I really like it! I'd love to see more darker takes on badniks from the older games for some time, and this just makes me want to see more.

Keep it up!

Thanks, Check out my render of the Motobug on my website. I'm designing Sonic with brown eyes, does anyone disagree with that color choice? http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100003098056757

[RedAuthar]

Sonic has Green eyes. But I guess it really is up to you.

[Verafx81]

Hey all, been super busy lately. I finally got a chance to work on my own projects. I went back to the drawing board with my designs.

www.facebook.com/MobiusTheAnimatedSeries

 

My browser keeps freezing when I try to upload a pic. That's the facebook page where I update my progress. Please let me know what you think.

[Verafx81]

www.facebook.com/mobiustheanimatedseries
Still working on this project. I have some neat giveaway shirts, check it out.  image.jpg   87.49KB   0 downloads

[Sonic J]

Interesting project. Sonic's iconic eyes being seperated isn't a good idea in my book, but I respect your freedom of expression with trying to make sonic seem more deep and real. But I have to say if you can't make him seem deep and real with one eye, it makes me worried about the spirit of Soniic in your story. I guess I'll have to see the finished product.

 

One real critique I have, if your animations you posted are any evidence of what you're doing, I think it needs to be much more snappy. The Sonic series is all about speed. Like the tire under the bug. I think it should pop out very fast, almost make him pop up from the tire hitting the ground so fast, and then roll off in a dash. Snappyness is the key I think to making it look real good for a Sonic animation.

[Verafx81]

I think the Cyclopes Design for Sonic has to come to an end, it always looked super strange when translated to 3D. The old one eye design has presents problems when creating eyebrow expressions and even having the character wink would be tricky. It works great in drawings and I feel Sonic would actually match the other freedom fighters now.

 

I believe the tire under the bug should come out fast also, but for the first time no. Reminds me of how slow the transformers transform at first. But those were all test animations to show things are working properly.

 

Your right about things being snappy. I see a lot of cartoons go 3D only to lose its flair. I wonder if all the frames of animation are slowing it down, not enough squash and stretch, or something else. Its going to take a lot of testing and going back and forth.

[Sonic J]

...Uhm, don't mean to insult you, but Sega is making him wink in 3D quite successfully. People have been making him wink in 2D long before that. It appears every other Sonic artist and 3D Sonic sculpter and Sonic 3D animator on the planet is already lightyears ahead of you. I'm not just talking about Sega, the fan artist, sculpters, and animators too.

What these people did that you haven't seemed to do is figure out how to make it work, not just make excuses.

The cyclops design is one of the things that make Sonic...well, Sonic. If you don't understand that, then I may have been correct in my fears that you don't understand the spirit of Sonic the Hedgehog. Those goggled eyes contribute to Sonic's speedy, laid back, go big or go home attitude. As an artist, you should appreciate and respect that attitude and rich history of all the Sonics that ever were with goggled eyes that captured our hearts. The eyes are windows into the soul. You change Sonic's eyes, you change his soul.

Again, I'm not trying to be mean, please don't take it that way. I'm trying to be honest, which any creative person needs. I fear your project won't capture the hearts of Sonic fans because you're just making some kind of Sonish, not Sonic the Hedgehog.

[Verafx81]

No the Cyclopes Design is not Sonic. I think the character has more to him than that. The spirit of Sonic is not in his eye shape.

 

Light-years ahead of me is a big over statement. Google "Sonic Wink", by looking and analyzing the images it doesn't look natural. When they do it they move the center brow down close to his nose in order for it to work (some of the renders are practically closed). I do have the two models from Generations on file and I've studied them and how they would animate, there are lots of problems and people don't see them because they hide them well. For instance look at Sonic booms design, what is behind the scarf?...... a neck! A neck increases the mobility of the head. Look at Sonic Booms head movement of Knuckles, its terrible.

 

If anyone feels that strongly about it then they can help me write it. Sega shows me they are not scared to change design with something like Blue arms..... then they show me they are scared of change, example scarf.

I for one think Sonics eyes can change and have the same spirit. Its simply an art style nothing more.

[Sonic J]

...I just wanna point out Pixar does the cyclops thing also, with much success.



They also lack in neck. Must they make them into human form for it to not be awkward and work?

[RedAuthar]

The art design needs to relate to the feel of the show. If the show is a more serious tone, a more realistic or less cartoony design Sonic should have.
However if you're going for a more adventurous/less serious tone, a realistic Sonic feels out of place.
Example: Take a look at the Art direction for Sly Cooper and Compare it to the Sly Movie Trailer. The more realistic art feels off for a movie based on a game designed to feel like a cartoon.