Season 3: Modeling/Rigging

My first gig as a 3D modeler and rigger was on the 3rd season of Guppies in 2013. Here are a few of the models I worked on during my time on that season

 Season 4: Design/Modeling

The following season I was brought back to the team for the experimental position of a 3D designer. At this point in the show the style was very well established and a large library of assets was available for many sets and characters. The producers wanted to experiment going straight to model in the design phase. My job was to build production ready models as I designed them. It was a lot of work, but it was really great fun.

CARGO SEA PLANE

3D MODELING / DESIGN

This was probably my favorite assignment of the season. I love doing vehicles. I wanted to make it a cross between the plane from Quantum of Solace and the Sea Duck. I always loved the Sea Duck from Tale Spin so it was obviously an inspiration (I thought it was going to be silver…I wasn’t expecting the colour key department to use it’s same paint scheme… must have been thinking the same thing). I think the only reuse that was used was a CB radio receiver and some cargo crates

STARSHIP INTERIORS

3D MODELING / DESIGN

A Star Trek/Star Wars episode. This was fun. It was also another completely from scratch build.

DESERT GAS STATION

3D MODELING / DESIGN

I always loved old fashioned desert ghost town ruins on road trips. This area was a lot of fun to make. Most of the landscape type sets would begin with a lot of reuse parts from old sets. The base of the building started out from a default house from the main town, which I added a rickety porch, signs and pumps to. I then modified some default cars into an old scrapped down truck and a car having engine work done. I remember fighting hard to keep the truck in the show.

 BIG BUBBLE ARENA

3D MODELING / DESIGN

Big Bubble Arena, I believe started out as a design from the incredibly skilled designer, Gavin Ball. I think there were a lot of concerns with being able to fill the stadium with characters, so I was brought on to the assignment to rework the design using a boxing ring set that had been successful in a previous episode. First, I rebuilt the boxing ring into a rounded coliseum with a balcony. The stage, I used several of Gavin’s designs which included the shooting stars, the star runway, and amplifier cubes. My favorite part of my design input was the shape of the stage scaffolding and road cases…if there are any Pink Floyd fans who watched Pulse, something about the stage might look familiar.

LEMONADE STAND

3D MODELING / DESIGN / RIGGING

The lemonade stand was another highlight. Designing, modeling, and rigging it to transform was an extremely fun challenge.

PROPS

3D MODELING / DESIGN

A couple of props I did from the season. Usually for props there was a demand for providing options, which can be seen in the examples below. It probably was the toughest part about modeling and designing at the same time, but once the design was approved the model was already production ready.