Spring-Loaded 

Animation, Rigging, Modeling, Texturing | Winter 2021

"Spring-Loaded" is an animated short film created as part of my Animation 2 class, where we were tasked with crafting a unique "robot theater" film. This collaborative project involved the dedicated efforts of my two partners, Michael Lauw, and Jack Yang.

The film follows Scrawny-bot, a spirited and tenacious young robot, as he gears up to face the formidable Macho-bot in an epic showdown. Armed with his wit and springy anatomy, Scrawny-bot must summon all his courage to conquer the formidable challenge.

I was responsible for:

  • Modeling, texturing, and rigging, Scrawny-bot.

  • Fully animating the first half of the film (up to 44s in).

  • Modeling and texturing background assets including the neon sign, lockers, mirror, and punching bags.

 Scrawny-Bot 

Let's take a closer look at Scrawny-bot! His design revolves around the concept of springs. I modeled, rigged, and animated him using Maya, while his textures were made in Substance Painter.

Scrawny-bot's rig boasts an array of features that enhance his character performance:

  • Spine with built-in squash and stretch, giving his movement lively bounce and spirit.

  • Bendy IK arms that allow for smooth twisting and flexible motion

  • Weight-painted pants made for smooth deformation with leg movement.

  • Two distinct hand models β€” one with articulated fingers and the other with gloves. This functionality was used in the opening shots of the film.

 Concept Art 

During the planning phase I created concept art for the entire cast of characters. Although only my design for Scrawny-bot made it into the final film, I am satisfied with the designs produced for Macho-bot and Ref-bot.

To highlight their contrasting personalities, each character was crafted with distinct shapes in mind. Scrawny-bot boasts a lanky, bottom-heavy frame with sharp triangular motifs, while Macho-bot features a buff, top-heavy build with square and heavy motifs. Ref-bot, on the other hand, exudes a pudgy and circular appearance.

These designs were inspired by an early 1900s boxing aesthetic, lending a retro yet charming touch to the characters.

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Sprouting Spirit: Dream Duo

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Blunderbuss