The Brief
Here is a breakdown video of how I created this film from motion capture to character design to 3D modelling and rendering.
I Storyboarded the film using 3D software to better plan out the spacing and cinematography in relation to the characters.
Storyboard 1
Storyboard 2
I completed my motion capture in Shogun Post, creating a custom skeleton for the puppet and using gap filling and bad data detection to smooth the motion.
Motion Capture
Mocap Camera View
Mocap 3D Scene View
Custom Skeleton
Processed Skeleton
Pose Matching 1
Pose Matching 2
Pose Matching 3
Final Animation
Motion Capture Takes
I used photogrammetry to scan a real 1940s era paper puppet theatre for the setting.
Scan Photo 1
Scan Photo 2
Scan Photo 3
Scan Photo 4
Scan Photo 5
Scan Photo 6
Scan Photo 7
Scan Point Cloud
Scan Model
Gap in Mesh
Fixed Mesh
Unedited and Low Poly Mesh
Final Models
Final Model
The 3D modelling of the characters involved cloth sculpting, hard surface models and armature skinning and weighting.
Base Model
Textured Model
Coat Skinning (forearm)
Coat Skinning (ribs)
Coat Skinning (torso)
Cloth Pinning Group (front)
Cloth Pinning Group (back)
Body Skinning (chest)
Body Skinning (torso)
Body Skinning (ribs)
Puppet Model
Trousers Cloth Model
Trousers Cloth Model
Leg Skinning Left Hip
Top Cloth Pinning Group
Leg Skinning Left Thigh
Leg Skinning Left Thigh
Leg Skinning Left Calf
Base Face
Face with Hair Sim
Felt Waistcoat Hair Sim
Fur Coat Hair Sim
I went through several iterations in my lighting, and used Nuke to add depth of field and motion blur to the final render.
Lighting 1
Lighting 2
Lighting 3
Lighting 4
Lighting 5
Lighting 6
Render
Depth Pass
Depth Of Field Set Up
Depth Of Field
