Anim8or Community

I was asked to slap together a concept for a parking garage for the town I live in... the challenge being to create a building style that complements the existing "Star Tavern" in basic features.

Attached is an image of the existing building (Star Tavern) and neighboring vacant lot, plus the WIP of the proposed parking garage.

Greetings, all!

I've made a sort of "get your act together" resolution... and am starting to conquer some of my old projects one by one, with the intention of "accomplishing something" and moving on as I make a solid step in my various project dreams over the years.

Corporal Cosmic and the Terran Space Force!

Some of you, a few at least, might remember this... I began this idea to be either a video game or animated series when I first came to anim8or-land. As such, while the original concept is still brewing in my cobwebs of brain cavity, I have decided to take on a slightly more fun, whimsical approach to the old storyline.

I am creating a mini-movie of cartoon style, to be humorous in style, and reflect the adventures and misadventures of the Terran Space Force!

Dedicated to Protecting Earth from the Ongoing Threats from Outer Space!

As the storyline goes, "Corporal Cosmic and the Terran Space Force" is to be a set of 3dCG animated cartoons based upon another project (on hold) outlined in WAM (http://www.wreckamovie.com/corporalcosmicandthetsf2#).

Where the other project is destined to be a video game taking place in present day, and to be of more serious, realistic art style, these cartoon shorts will be whimsical, comical in design.

The Terran Space Force science fiction style reflects the retro "what if" science fiction style of the 1940s and 1950s, presented in comical, humorous style.

What is the Terran Space Force (TSF)?

The TSF, featuring the hero Corporal Cosmic, is an interplanetary defense force established to defend Earth against ongoing threats from "Space Aliens" bent on invading Earth and doing all the unspeakable things that *Space Aliens" are known for - abduction, experimentation, torture and eating of humans and other Earth life.

The TSF has a network of space stations and bases scattered throughout the solar system to keep vigilant watch for threats from outer space. All TSF technology reflects "Flash Gordon/Buck Rogers" style of outfits, ships, weapons, etc., designed from research of alien technology acquired by past alien incursions against Earth (ie. H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds, Area 51, etc.).

While the timeframe of the Terran Space Force is set in the 1950s, and operates as a sort of "alternate history," Earth's population of that time is largely unaware of the existence of this space force since the governments involved in the program feel that Earth is not ready to face the idea of recurring threats from "bug-eyed monsters from outer space." While super-powers officially launch to explore space in the historic Space Race between the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R., a thriving, active fleet of space stations and interstellar ships already exists, patrolling and policing the solar system on the watch for alien incursions from outer space.

Attached is my comical version of the typical Terran Space Force agent/commando, as well as a larger version of the TSF emblem.

As I develop more material, I'll post it here for all to see. Look for space craft, "bug-eyed aliens" and other products as I cobble together the material to create my first cartoon.

Anyone who dares may take on the foolhardy task of speaking up and joining in, though I really don't ask for any suicidal efforts at this point, and am very aware of my history of unfinished projects.

Hopefully, this will be my first milestone in accomplishing something in one of the those unfinished tasks, after which I will step on to the next, and next... and cover several projects that I have put forth in anim8or.com forum over the years.

Once at least one cartoon episode is made, I may likely move forth with new gusto and look at the SteamPunk project that so many took interest in awhile back. I would really like to see that resurrected as well.

Well, I've been out of touch for awhile. Now getting back into the 3D bit... I was recruited to design a Mars Lander for a video project.

Check out this thing in the works... Will have more thruster rockets and related details soon.

When finished, the  lander will descend to the Martian surface, land and open up "flower petal" style, releasing a rover type vehicle.


Some of the other images in that photobucket show rough ideas for the Mars Lander stages.

Also, some preliminary basic mock-up experiments to be found here:

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I just noticed that Floyd reached 1000 posts today! CONGRATS MY MAN!!! (or monkey??)

Well, folks, yes... I seem to have fallen through cracks again, but really, no, I haven't quite.... As noted in the Steampunk thread, I've had to sidetrack onto another project...

That project involves learning my newly acquired MessiahStudio5 software for all those things MS5 is best for...

Thus, I've been recruited to work on a music video... actually, it's been the hope of developing a music video (at least one) in working on several ideas for several songs that a musician I know has in his repertoire.

After bouncing around three songs - one a sci-fi theme, another a western theme, and lastly something "prehistoric," I've settled to work on the "prehistoric" song as my chief tool for learning MS5 while using my beloved Anim8or as my model tool.

As for the video ideas being entertained, they include:

1) Rockasaurus:  Dinosaur invents Guitar 
2) Gunslinger:  Western/Cowboy storyline
3) Firestorm:  Sci-Fi space battle

So, here I have a work thread just for Rockasaurus... and will post models, etc ., as they develop.


Once upon a time
One hundred thirty million years ago
The Earth was ruled by the dinosaur
Fightin' to survive
Livin' for tomorrow's light
One lone caenagnathus wanted more

He worked and he sought
To build the perfect instrument
Pushed the limits of his every skill
Finally, he attained success
Fruition of his vigilence
Forged in the fire of his will

Rockasaurus - the Late Cretaceous' brightest star
Rockasaurus - music hatched to please
Rockasaurus - awakened now for all to see
From his long-term hibernation freeze

Now he's here at last
Freed from all the ice and snow
Makin' sweet rock candy for the ear
Yes, his time has come
Wild and free and goin' strong
Comin' at you boldly, loud and clear

Rockasaurus - the modern era's greatest prize
Rockasaurus - brought here just for you
Rockasaurus - comin' forth to show us all
Metal noise in scaley green and blue

Rockasaurus - don't get close, just take my word
Rockasaurus - amplifiers fried
Rockasaurus - once again to rule the world
Watch the future and past collide

Copyright ©2001 by Zéd Zørdään.  All rights reserved.
Any and all violations of this copyright shall be deemed as implied consent for substantial financial compensation and/or death by slow torture at the copyright holder's sole option.

This message has been fully reworked to serve as the summary of this project, and will be updated accordingly as people contribute.

Since a few folks have expressed interest in this project, I'm beginning with a storyline below, and then will have separate messages for each element or idea of the project as they come up.

Thanks to all that want to have a go at this. I do hope this can be a fun project for all. This could work well in some sort of movie format, or as a video game.3D comic, or as a video game.

For now, though, I think its enough to just create the immediate neighborhood/street on which the story would begin.

CURRENT LIST OF CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE WORKS:


Buildings
 - Metalsmith Shop / Office and Attic Dwelling (Arik_the_Red)
 - Mechanic Shop ($imon)
 - Urban Housing Ideas ($imon)
 - Factory/ies (kreator)

Vehicles
 - Small dirigible 1 man craft (Arik_the_Red)
 - Steam-powered bike (Raxx)
 - Steam Limousine (Ensoniq5)

Characters
 - Metalsmith's Apprentice - Male character (Arik_the_Red)
 - Mechanic - Female character (Raxx)

HISTORY:

It was the beginning of Mankind's era of Industrial Revolution. The invention of the steam engine brought new wonders to the world. Locomotives chased long, gleaming rails over vast expanses of land, carrying people and wares tirelessly across continents. Ships of steam chugged over lakes, winding rivers and even across seas, connecting nations, cities, and families as never before.

And a piece of Heaven's foundations fell, shaking the world. The skies burned... Storms of fire swept over the lands... A shroud of darkness blotted out the sun, and then came the Long Winter. In the Dark, death and famine prevailed... Green turned to brown and black, and the survivors of wondered if the sun would ever shine again, or would the sky be an eternal, dismal gray.

But, in time the sun did return, the blue skies did return, and the world was reborn from the ashes. And the very cause of Man's - the Earth's - misery was discovered. In the heart of a massive, ragged hole in the world glowed a mountainous rock from Space... radiating, pulsing of orange light, hot to the touch, hard as a diamond. The cause of the world's grief, however, brought with it a wonder as well. When the rains fell, the waters burst into steam on touch... And Man found a gift in the heart of the world's destruction...

People found a way to mine the massive meteor, slowly removing small portions, and constructing great machines powered by the strange element's means of producing steam. And the Age of Steam was reborn, fueled by the scrapings from the massive, glowing rock. New machines provided new wonders, and crafts of land, sea, and air... and thus was that, with the dawning of a new century, the Age of Steampunk was born, and blossomed.

CURRENT SETTING & STORYLINE:

The time frame of the storyline is roughly the 1900s, in the area of the 1920s-early 1930s. Thus, the technology would best be reflected as Steampunk-version of anything from the late 1800s to the mid-1930s. Of course, in place of technology formed of the petroleum industry, is the development of anything steam-powered. After all, with the Long Winter and the need for Mankind to rebuild after what is essentially something akin to nuclear winter, the discovery of an element that is in relative abundance and able to create high levels of steam in small quantities would intrigue scientists and engineers deeply enough to delay, possibly even completely halt, the pursuits of petroleum fuels.

The city could be a city in partial ruin from the time of the Long Winter, and the styles of the buildings and such would be heavily influenced by the Victorian Era. As is, the new/rebuilt city is formed around a massive steam power plant that maintains vast boilers and equipment for the production of electricity and also extreme pressure steam pipes to areas somewhat closer to the plant as sources of heat, steam and hot water for businesses and residences.

Vehicles and equipment are powered by a boiler system that takes a mere grain of the meteor for smaller engines, and water tanks that provide the steam on contact with the meteor fragment in question.

The story begins with the main character being a metalsmith's apprentice who lives in the attic of the smith-shop of his employer/master. He awakes late in the morning, far later than "Master" would have him... to find that no one is about... that there are no people in his neighborhood. The plot is for the main character to discover what has become of the people.

The fact of the matter is that the main character had been out too late the night before, and drinking/carousing heavily, and slept in well past noon, completely oblivious to the world. During that time, all people that were easily found were rounded up by an alien invasion, the aliens having come to Earth in pursuit of the element of the and the meteor that fuels Man's Steampunk Revolution.

A few scattered humans, holed up like the main character was - in attics, sewers, or other difficult-to-find areas, can be found. But, by and large, the aliens took almost everyone, and it is for the remaining few to determine what happened, and ultimately how to put an end to the aliens' occupation, and free the humans that were captured.

DESIGN GUIDELINES:

I'm a closed-minded American, designing things in the American measurements... So, I have been working with the idea that:
 - 10pts = 1 foot, and the average height of a human being 60pts
 - 60pts = the height of an average human (6 ft, or a bit shy of 2 meters/metres)

The style I'm aiming for is roughly realistic in proportioning, though I think I will have some slight exaggerations in the making of characters. The heads, hands and feet may be somewhat pronounced and enlarged as is appropriate to create more interesting style and such. As I get the main character in order soon, I hope it shows well enough what I have in mind.

Anim8or Materials: I am attaching a version of Kubajz (sp?) Material DB because I like the metals, and have been working from that file to create my own materials as well. My dirigible (incomplete) is also attached so that some of my own materials are included. I'd encourage people to likewise use the attached file as the basis for materials to provide some continuity to things.

NOW WHAT:

Well, anyone with any ideas on how to further develop what is shown above, please do! I will be glad to consider and implement any contributions to the best of my closed-minded, egotistical brain's ability ... Just speak up, and I'll try and figure out the best way to make any new ideas work out, so long as it sticks to the general theme described above.

PROPER CREDIT:

It's only appropriate that credit be given where credit is due, therefore I will hold rights to the initial storyline and anything that I create. Likewise, anyone who contributes to the project will maintain ownership of their respective ideas and contributions.

On the outside chance that this project does move on to any wondrous chances of fame, glory, and endless riches, it should only be on the conditions that all contributors can agree to. No one should profit from this project except in the sense that all can agree upon how they should share in the benefits.

That being said, lets forget all that for now, and just have some fun!

I know this got started under the "lamp" thread, but since I've diversified, I'm beginning a new thread...

I am making an Antarctic abandoned whaling station on a small island as part of a game idea. While the concept ties into my "Corporal Cosmic" idea, this particular development "level" is quite capable of being a game all its own.

Therefore, I'm working it out as a self-standing game.

Plot: The player character/hero is a US special agent dropped off in the water in a lifeboat in the guise of being a shipwreck survivor. The mission is to explore the island because the US government believes there may be more going on than mere whaling operations.

Right now I'm working on the project from the beginning of the "gameplay," starting with modeling the ship dock on the island, then working onto the land and station facilities, and on from there.

The design will be rather surreal, and not solidly realistic in proportions of objects... this is partly because I just do better modeling that style, and it takes more "mental energy and time" for me to try and do purely real.

Anyway, attaching images that I am using for inspiration for starters... The 1st three pics are of a rather famous whaling station on Deception Island in the Antarctic.

The last image is not related to the station images, but shows the art-style I hope to convey. It's from a game made in Blender that I found on youtube..

There are some great things in the real whaling base... a partially sunken whaling ship, rusting hulks of buildings and equipment, etc. I collected a whole load of pics for inspiration.

Of course, the station I am making will be a bit less complicated, I do want to have the dock and sunk ship, several types of buildings and equipment to get the feel of the real place, and, like the real place, the island is going to be a small, dormant volcanic peak where the real mystery lies in the crater beyond the station/village ruins.