Mind-maps

Mind-map 1

Here you can see different ideas about the genre and concept of film/game.

 Mind-map 2 

 Here you can see different ideas about the main characters of my short film animation. 

Designing Process

I modelled the head of my wasp using my sketches and a plane primitive converted to Editable Poly. I used edge selection in order to clone this plane. This is a Box modelling technique which require using a predefined primitive in the software to shape the final model.

 

The other parts of the character I modelled using box medelling technique of creating polygon meshes. It is when you use predefined primitives by the 3D software in order to modify them and create the final model.
I applied TurboSmooth modifier to the head in order to do its edges smoother.

I modelled only half of the head. Then, I applied Symmetry modifier to it in order to create the other part. I modelled the eyes using Sphere and Symmetry modifiers as well as Select and Uniform Scale. I used Cylinder and Bend modifiers in order to create the wasp’s antennae. I modelled the body using Sphere primitive converted to Editable Poly. Soft Selection helped me to form the body the way I wanted to be.

I modelled sneakers using primitives such as Sphere and Tube which I converted to Editable Poly. Using Soft Selection, I created the appropriate shape of the shoe.

I improved the body of the wasp using Soft Selection. I modelled the wings using Line Spline and Extrude modifier.

I improved the shape of the shoe using Soft Selection.

I created legs of the wasp using Tube primitive converted in Editable Poly.

This is the way the wasp looked so far with the sneakers.

Here, I changed the shape of the legs because the wasp looked like a grasshopper with the previous legs. I also changed the shape and length of the antennae of the wasp. Therefore, it looks more like a real wasp. I scaled one more time the shoe in order to fit well the leg of the wasp. I applied different colours and textures using Material Editor.

Sketches of My 3D Character

 Sketch 1

   Sketch 2

 Sketch 3

All of the three sketches shows my initial idea about designing a bee character primarily because of the body design. In my final design I changed the shape of the body and antennae in order to look more like a wasp. 

Mood-boards

3D Characters

These animated characters, as well as a real photo of a wasp, helped me to design my 3D character. I was paying close attention to their design. For example, I a bee with sneakers inspired my idea about wasp with sneakers. Face expressions of the other 3D characters helped me to model the wasp's face expressions. I modeled the body of my wasp using a real photo of the wasp. The design of the hands and legs of the monster Mike Wazowski and the ant Flick helped me to model the wasp's hands and legs.

Textures

 I applied not all of these textures to my character. In the beginning of my designing process when my idea was a bee not a wasp, I was thinking to apply a bee body texture. When I modeled a wasp, I applied the wasp body texture as well as the wing texture. The other two textures are the weave and the cotton fabric. I applied the cotton fabric texture to the sneakers. I would also apply the weave texture to the shoe lace but I decided not to.

Ideas and Research

These tutorials in You Tube helped me to model and animate my 3D character

3Dean: Creating a Flight Path for a Flying Insect Using 3ds Max 2012

3DSMax2012 - Motion Control - Noise Controller

Camera Link to Path Part 1- 3DS Max Tootorial

Backgrounds