Studio Brief

Computer graphics have long been utilized as a means to visualize and illuminate the natural world. More recently, generative software and artificial intelligence have empowered us to rationalize complex natural phenomena like viral protein structures, gravitational distortion caused by black holes, or complex patterns found on the scales of pufferfish. These simulations have helped expand our understanding of the natural world, and provide scaffolding for scientific discovery. 

In the first studio session of the Winter Term, students examined these topics through a series of procedural modeling exercises utilizing the software Houdini FX. Students explored topics such as the growth patterns of snowflake crystals, the formation of tornadoes, and the self-organizing behaviors demonstrated by schools of fish. 

Building on the technical and conceptual experience gained during Session 1, students in the second session worked in teams to construct, animate, and edit a visual campaign informed by a natural event or phenomena. The teams explored current and compelling global issues with the objective of enlightening audiences through a provocative and educational piece. Through this studio, students have been introduced to a variety of cinematography, rigging, and animation techniques while developing a sensitivity to narrative construction, composition, and lighting

Vectors

Schlieren Optics

Pyro

Fluids

Snowflakes

Session 1

Exercises

Session 1

Project 1

Eye Agate

Elbaite

Bismuth

L-Systems

Hematite

Genetic mutation in cats

Amethyst

Session 1 Project 2

Mask Simulation

Whirlpool

Fish Flocking

Lightning

Weather Simulation

Bioluminescence

Orbital Debris

Session 2

Script

Storyboard

Animatic

Session 2 Projects

Biomass Degradation

Nuclear Now

Birds of a feather

Stranger Slime

Into the Deep

Debris

Siena Jekel and Cole Krivak

Into the Deep

Debris is a short animated film exploring the relationship between the deep sea and pollution. It is a place so remote and unexplored yet is still being affected by today's excessive waste. Through the use of the 3D modeling program Blender, the life of a anglerfish and the blight of its habitat is simulated.

Environment

Lighting

Characters

Asset Creation

Process

Reference

Reference

Model

Model

Texture

Texture

Rig and Animate

Rig and Animate

Environment Process

Post Production

Final Images

Final Images