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Alien/Shark Showcase

Down below are the links to the 3D turnaround:

Shark: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/shark-34d016c991874d5b9661248cf48c02b7?autospin=1

Alien: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/alien-989daa4491fb4135a1663f77938c6393?autospin=1

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Reflection/ Conclusion

    In conclusion, the Australian  domestic animal modelling/ texturing assessment has been an educational journey with successful outcome. The desired design is fulfilled and the direction of the style of the shark is guided with sufficient academic researches and references from movies/ videos online, making the progresses of design and production smooth with only one minor problem met during texturing the shark.  

    The alien modelling/ texturing has give the lesson that sometimes sources doesn't have to necessary come from academic sources in order for an asset to look believable while still retain the impression of a mystical/ supernatural mystery. From this assessment, I've also learned to use many online sources that provide tutorials/ guides/ shortcuts that make the making of the two 3d models possible and better than I could do by myself.

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Alien Modeling/texturing

    In the beginning of the production, the head/ nose/ mouth was first created, then the body, arms /hands, and legs/ feet. The eyes were added and the shapes of the fingers and toes created lastly just before the texturing part of this part of the assessment. 

    The texture of the alien were divided into two parts, the eyes and the rest of the body. Unlike the shark, there was no problem met during the modelling and texturing stage of this second part of the assessment.

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Alien Model Design

    In the design stage, some changes have been made in order to be distinguished from the alien design from the website. 

    Like many other alien designs, they tend to have large and dark eyes. The alien of this production will have small eye and iris, more resemble to human while still have the dark color eyes and white iris. The inward and outward eyelid angel will also be changed to give an abnormal stare. The head shape will be larger in the shape of a reversed pear shape, making the chin looking very pointy and slim. The backside of the head would be extrusive. Both hands and legs will be long and slender, only difference is that the hand of the alien would have 5 fingers and the foot would have two toes. 

    The body shape of the alien will be pear shaped. The hands would be normal size, while the feet will be big and flat, almost look like a person wearing a pair of canvas shoes.

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Alien Model Research

    During the research & design stage, unfortunately no reliable & peered reviewed academic research  document can be found on the QUT library , even with search term “extra-terrestrial “. Meaning the only informative sources available are those from movies, cartoons, illustrations, books, and more. After looking through multiple examples of alien designs, the desired characteristic design narrowed down to those from “Paul”, “District 9”, “Megamind”, design by Dxbdesign, and the website “Space Alien Invasion”. 

    Finally, the characteristic design of this second part of the assessment will be using  the alien designs from both “Space Alien Invasion” , 4th picture, and also “Paul” , 2nd picture. The alien from the 2011 movie “Paul” has the desired body parts portion; big head, long hands/ legs, slim body with round belly, and the alien from the website “Space Alien Invasion” gives the desired design direction . which is more similar to human than other alien designs while still not quite as human at the same time.

References:

SCI-FI NERD – District 9 (2009): Monsters And Men. (2019). Retrieved 16 August 2019, from http://www.scifimoviepage.com/sci-fi-nerd-freaky-friday-district-9-2009-monsters-and-men/

GREYS, T. (2019). THE ALIEN GREYS. Retrieved 16 August 2019, from http://ufomysteryandmeaning.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-greys.html

Tumblr. (2019). Retrieved 16 August 2019, from https://spacealieninvasion.tumblr.com/post/139447894625

Megamente. (2019). Retrieved 16 August 2019, from http://peliculasyadeita.blogspot.com/2016/01/megamente.html

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Alien Model Initial Start

    Beginning the second part of the assessment, the instruction gives clear objective of creating an fantasy or supernatural creature in a cartoonish style. Other than that, humanoid or hybrid  character can also be considered as the main theme of this second part of the assessment. The polygon count of the creature/character model has to be mid-level, and similar to the previous part of the assessment, will need to be textured and rendered. 

    From the genres of creatures permitted, this part of the assessment has chosen alien/extra-terrestrial life form since the existence of alien gives the most mystical vibe and is very suitable for the direction of this part of the assessment.

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Shark Modeling/Texturing

    During the production, the main body ,no fins other than the tail, was first created. The rest of the fins  were than later on created and connected to the main body. 

    The gill and nose was later created by disconnect the polygon and adjust position. Last of the modeling step, the eyes and teeth were added to the model.

    During the texturing part, since the color of the shark is not complicated ,two colors top and bottom, there's no need to unwrap the map and can been done with simple color painting. 

    The only problem met, but was quickly solved was that the colors were not showing after imported texture file for the shark. The teeth are not textured as it does not need any.

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Shark Design

    After the researching part, some times has been taken to design  cartooned shark  and alter parts of appearance to make it less realistic. Starting from the facial features, the eyes will be larger that usual , and the teeth will be a little smaller/ rounder. Body portion wise, the head and upper body will be slightly bigger, the pectoral fins on two sides will be larger, and the first dorsal fin will be less pointy while the caudal  fin will be larger and longer, more resemblance to a blue shark. 

    As for the body colors, it will remain the same; grey blue on the most top half of the body, and slightly grey white on the bottom half of the body facing downward.

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Animal Model Research Part 2

    Researching on some shark models have also been done in order to decide the style the shark will be presented in. The great white shark from the Disney movie “Finding Nemo” was first came to mind, but after having a thought, the style of the shark is very cartoon style and not getting the desired direction of the design. 

    After looking through sharks from various movies  and videos like “Back to the Future: Part II”, “Crazy Shark Attack”,  “Meg”, “Shark Tale”, and “Despicable me”, I find the shark from “Despicable me” ,the second picture above, has some features ,not the style, to make the shark of this assessment  more aesthetic. Even though it's cartoonish, but it doesn't lose the impression a great white shark should have: mysterious, frightening, and beautiful.

References:

Pinterest. (2019). Watch out for that billboard Marty. Scene from Back to the Future 2. This used to scare me as a kid! | All Things Delorean. | Back to the future, The future movie, Future. [online] Available at: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/178666310192205248/?lp=true

YouTube. (2019). #Crazy Shark Attack Cartoon For Children ♔ #Funny Animals #Cartoons #Compilation Just For Kids. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG4ayqbdHO8

The Meg (2018) - Shark Food Scene (3/10) | Movieclips. (2019). Retrieved 16 August 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3zb4fwFd3E

Shark Tale. (2019). Retrieved 16 August 2019, from https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/photo-gallery/38446508/image/38446578/Shark-Tale  

Vector's Shark. (2019). Retrieved 16 August 2019, from https://despicableme.fandom.com/wiki/Vector%27s_Shark

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    During the brainstorming,pre-production design stage, Certain amount of researches are needed to begin to understand the anatomy of great white shark as there' are some differences between it and other types of shark. The book “ The Biology of Sharks  and Rays”  written by Peter Klimley and Steven Oerding provides clear anatomical information  and prove to be a valuable information source by providing the anatomy and body part scale/angle of shark  in order for this assessment to have a successful outcome. 

    Shark has eight fins in total and six different fin types: pectoral fin, first dorsal fin, second dorsal  fin, anal fin, and caudal fin. A shark has two pectoral fins and pelvic fins. Caudal fin is the longest fin, follow by pectoral fin while anal fin is smaller than second dorsal fin, and second dorsal fin is smaller than pelvic fin. (Klimley, A. P. ,2013)

Reference:

Klimley, A. P. (2013).The biology of sharks and rays. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com

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Animal Model Initial Start

    During the initial  start, the assessment has given objective of making a model of an Australian domestic animal , including  and not limited to a kangaroo , stingray, shark, koala, gecko, blue tongue lizard, Tasmanian tiger, turtle, or other Australian animal. The polygon count of the model has to be between low to middle level, and later it will needed to be textured and rendered in the later stage of production . 

    Out of all Australian domestic animals, great white shark has been chosen as the main focus for this project as great white shark is a fascinated and interesting animal. Much similar to crocodile, shark has not changed evolution wise for thousands of years, and it gives the impression of a mysterious , frightening, and beautiful creature that lures in vast ocean in most of people's mind, an impression that not a lot of other animals  share.