Dudek VFX
Way to Utopia
My story is about an elephant whose journey is one of the most difficult.
The main aim of this project is to make a wider audience aware of the problems we face as a society in the face of the environmental crisis and global warming. Elephants have the extraordinary ability to sense water from up to 19 kilometers away. This allows them to become exceptional guides in a world that has almost completely lost its water sources - a dry, lifeless world. My story tells of an elephant's journey in search of a coveted spring, which should become a symbol of a new beginning and life for him. However, for such a huge animal, the journey through the desert cannot be easy.
My work will primarily consist of creating environments. Although I haven't done much of this in the past - my main work was simulation and motion design in Houdini - I would like to develop in this field, learning to create and render spaces correctly. Modelling living objects has never been my forte, and animating is the biggest trauma for me. Unfortunately, I am not going to include animation in my work so that I can focus on composing, lighting, and rendering the environment.
Another element I would like to work on is simulations of sand - both in the form of dust clouds and dust gently floating in the wind. I want my work to convey the rawness and beauty of the post-apocalyptic world through which the elephant wanders.
Environment Development
While working on the project, I created many desert environments in Houdini, experimenting with different optimization, terrain shaping, and simulation techniques. I focused on finding the best solutions that would capture the harsh and majestic nature of the desert and fit perfectly with my vision of my world. I tested different approaches to generating forms, erosion, and sand movement to achieve the most natural and immersive effect. This way, I could refine every detail and create an environment that would become a full-fledged character in my story.
Character Design
The Blue Elephant - A Guide to the Edge of the World.
The main character of my story is an extraordinary blue elephant - the epitome of loyalty and wisdom. His skin shines like the deep night firmament, adorned with stars that twinkle with his every step. He is a mystical guide, guardian of the last hopes, leading us through the dried wilderness towards a new beginning. His calm gaze hides the knowledge of the world's past, and every movement tells a story of survival, courage, and faith in rebirth. It is he who points out how the world seems to end.
For my project, I used a model downloaded from the internet, which I then processed in detail in ZBrush. I added details and various elements to give it a unique character and enhance its form. The next step was to create the texture in Substance Painter, where I focused on refining the surface, adding depth to the colors, and creating realistic materials. This gave the model a unique look, fitting perfectly with the mystical atmosphere of my story.
