Energeia - Character Design {stage 03}

SEM01. D E L T A. FINAL PROJECT
P R O J E C T :: E N E R G E I A
PHASE# D E V E L O P M E N T

The third stage of designing a character is the finalization of the design and concept.

Below are the third stage of the characters design:


E A R T H

W A T E R

W I N D

 

S U N

  

Apparently, we had to make few more changes on the characters' designs as the project continues on until each and one of them fit the look and feel of the whole project interface.

Energeia - Character Design {stage 02}

SEM01. D E L T A. FINAL PROJECT
P R O J E C T :: E N E R G E I A
PHASE# D E V E L O P M E N T

The second stage of designing a character is the studies of the characters' subject matters.

Below are the second stage of characters subject matters:


E A R T H & G O L L U M

W A T E R

W I N D

S U N

Characters Line-up

Apparently, we had to make few more changes on the characters' designs as the project continues on until each and one of them fit the look and feel of the whole project interface.

Energeia - Character Design {stage 01}

SEM01. D E L T A. FINAL PROJECT
P R O J E C T :: E N E R G E I A
PHASE# D E V E L O P M E N T

The characters design concept in this project is base on the Chinese Gods and Goddesses. While the characters’ costume are base on Chinese Opera costume; where they wear the classical Chinese traditional costume.

Later on, once all the characters design are complete, each character will be transform into shadow play style to fit the MG concept for this project.

The first stage of designing a character is to have random sketches of different looks and feel of the character. 

Below are the first stage of character design sketches :

Characters First Draft (a)

From left : Earth, Wind, Water and Sun

Characters First Draft (b)

From left : Water, Earth, Wind and Sun

 Characters Second Draft (a)

From left : Water and Sun

 Characters Second Draft (a)

From left : Earth and Wind

Water Goddess

Transformation process of the Water Goddess

Wind God

Wind God and his huge fan

 

 

Wind God

Transformation process of the Wind God

Energeia - Character Profile

SEM01. D E L T A. FINAL PROJECT
P R O J E C T :: E N E R G E I A
PHASE# D E V E L O P M E N T

There are 5 main characters in the story. Each character's profile was created based on an existing individual and in our case, we chose few different actors and actresses as our references.

Below is the characters profile :

The Human

Also Known As : The Invaders/ The Destroyers

Gender : Male

Color : Brown

Energy Element : -

Time/ Season : -

Skills : Has the ability to create, invent modern mechanism for their civilization development.

Physical Appearance :

-          Over confident, arrogant, terrified, guilty / sad (depend on respective scene,
           these facials exp are subject to change)

-          Seems to be 30 years old.

-          Average body built with same height and size.

Usual Attire :

Wears a traditional war armor and boot.

Personality Details :

Over confident, arrogant, cowardice, regret / ashamed (depend on respective scene, these facial expressions are subject to change)

Misc. Details : -

Real Life Actor/ Actress :

Jet Li

Jet Li as The Dragon Emperor in 

The Mummy : Tomb of The Dragon Emperor

The Sun

Also Known As : The God of Sun

Gender : Male

Color : Red

Energy Element : Solar

Time/ Season : Midday, Mid Summer

Skills : Has the ability to create or manipulate heat / fire.

Nature Catastrophe : Drought

Physical Appearance :

-          Stern facial expression

-          Seems to be between 45-55 years old

-          Bulky body builds with awesome muscle tone

-          His hair on the head is the fire itself

Usual Attire :

Half naked. (Wears shoulder armory with the sun emblem on it, general boot, fiery wristlet)

Personality Details :

Strong leadership qualities, extrovert, emotional extremes, self – expression

Misc. Details :

His character was based on Chu Jung, god of fire and executions who rules over justice, revenge, and death.

Real Life Actor/ Actress :

Chow Yun Fatt

Chow Yun Fatt as Emperor Ping in Curse of The Golden Flower

The Wind

Also Known As : The God of Wind

Gender : Male

Color : White

Energy Element : Wind

Time/ Season : Late noon, Autumn

Skills : Has the ability to create or manipulate wind.

Nature Catastrophe : Tornado, hurricane

Physical Appearance :

-          Brave facial expression

-          Seems to be 26 years old

-          Slender body build

Usual Attire :

Wears a simple traveler outfit, travelling boot, and a simple designed head piece.

Personality Details :

Generous nature, value ethics cooperative, braveness, haste

Misc. Details :

His character was based on Fei Lian, god of winds who rules over storms.

Real Life Actor/ Actress :

Takeshi Kaneshiro

 Takeshi Kaneshiro as Jin in House of Flying Daggers

The Water

Also Known As : The Goddess of Water

Gender : Female

Color : Blue

Energy Element : Hydro

Time/ Season : Night, Winter

Skills : Has the ability to control or manipulate water.

Nature Catastrophe : Tsunami, flood

Physical Appearance :

-          Confident facial expression

-          Seems to be 23 years old

-          Her body is in the form of water from below her knees

-          Have 2 hair loops on her head

Usual Attire :

Wears almost see through garment. Her pants seem to be imitating the flow of water.

Personality Details :

Usually calm, constant, solitude, introspection, sympathy, mystery

Misc. Details :

Her character is based on Mazu, goddess of water who rules over sea and protector of sailor.

Real Life Actor/ Actress :

Zhang Zi Yi

Zhang Zing Yi as Xiao Mei in House of Flying Daggers

The Earth

Also Known As : The Goddess of Earth / Mother Earth

Gender : Female

Color : Blue

Energy Element : Biomass/ Geothermal

Time/ Season : Morning, Spring

Skills : Has the ability to control or manipulate anything that is from the ground / dirt.

Nature Catastrophe : Earthquake

Physical Appearance :

-          Timid, calm, serene facial expression

-          Seems to be 34 years old

-          Petit body build

Usual Attire :

Wears a traditional upper class costume along with a traditional head piece with a flowery crest on it. The dress so long it covered her feet.

Personality Details :

Deductive, solid, reliable, stability, family-oriented, caring, supportive

Misc. Details :

Her character is based Hu-Tu (Hou-T'u), female deity of earth who rules over earth and fertility.

Real Life Actor/ Actress :

Koyuki Kato

Koyuki Kato as Onigen in Blood The Last Vampire

Energeia - Story Draft

SEM01. D E L T A. FINAL PROJECT
P R O J E C T :: E N E R G E I A
PHASE# D E V E L O P M E N T


The first stage of this project is to create a storyline. Me and my partner had so many different ideas when it comes to describing 'energy'. After few sessions of brainstorming, we decided to combined few bits of each different ideas that we had came up with before. After we had jotted down all the keywords and decided the tone and theme, its time to draft the story.   

Below is the story draft :

P R  O   L    O     G      U      E

The   Light   of   Life

In the beginning, the world is just a barren place; with no sign of life, always dark and cold. Then comes the Sun, the great ruler of life, descend to the barren land and shed his first light. His light, glow so radiant, almost blinding awakens Earth from her deep slumber. 

Feeling the warmth from Sun’s light, Earth surrounds herself with mountains and hills and seeds of plants to protect herself from sunburn. Taken pity on Earth, the Water who have been latent under the Earth, rouses herself and pour her tears of mercy on the land. But her tears flow so great that it began to drown the Earth. 

Being the drifter and free spirited roaming traveller, the Wind stumbles upon the drowning Earth and offers his hand. With all his might, he waves away the over flowing water as much as his pair of wings can bare and spread them equally all over the land and save Earth from drowning. 

Realizing their mistakes, Sun and Water promises their protection to Earth by granting her the gift of clouds to sheathe her from the Sun’s light of life when the days are too hot and to damp her with Water’s tears of mercy when she is parched.

With all of them working together, the world begins to live.

B O  D   Y

The    Invaders

Million years have passed and comes the fearless invaders when the dawn arrives. They drain Sun’s light and use it to strengthen their artillery so they can cut and burn down the trees, chase away the animals from their forefathers’ land. They then mercilessly pierce Earth with their monstrous claws and built themselves a concrete jungle they call a city; Leaving Earth wounded and frail.

They entrap Water in a box they call a dam and force him to flow constrictly to generate heat and light for their concrete jungle. They too, tricked the Wind into helping them before they trap him in a field full of giant fans where he will never escape. Thinking that they have successfully conquered the land, they become too proud and gladly call themselves the Destroyers.

Years have passed, the Destroyers have become too proud to be prepared when the fate strikes. The proud Destroyers have just become their own demise.

E P  I   L    O    G     U       E

Revengeful

With the sudden given of opportunity and with what was left of her strength, Earth shook her ground so hard that the land beneath the Destroyers’ feet and their magnificent city rippled and split asunder. Alas the great quakes freed Earth’s fellow guardians the Sun, Water and Wind from their confinement. Earth finally planted fears in the Destroyers’ heart.

Once free, mercilessly, Water brings forth her terrifying giant waves and swept the remnants of the Destroyers’ city; cleanse the land from Earth’s rumbles. While Wind, freed from his towering prison, unleashes his terrible gust of storm with each wave of his wings; shove everything in front Earth’s path.

Earth, walks the ugly path of vengeance claiming her revenge towards the Destroyers. Earth, who was once so beautiful, serene and kind, has become scarred by her own curse of grudge.

The Destroyers run in fear for their lives from the revengeful Earth and the angry Sun, Water and Wind. Earth, no longer cares for mercy, stomp and stomp her way through the ravaged land when suddenly an ill-fated Destroyer stumbled under her monstrous foot.

No longer have courage he could muster, the once proud and arrogant Destroyer finally succumb to his defeat and beg Earth for her mercy. The Destroyer’s admit of defeat has made example to his people and they too bows and begs Earth for her mercy.

Surprise by the Destroyers’ surrender, Earth finally comes to her sense and from her stony eyes, ran down a single tear drop of regret. Earth felt deeply ashamed of how she has let herself became ugly from her anger and grudge. Bits by bits the stone monster crumbles away and reveals Earth’s true self, hidden beneath.

With a single lift of her arms, pale green shoots erupted from the land below them, rushing towards the sky and some grew wrapped to the city ruins. The Destroyers, who were no longer a demolisher but simply the Dweller of the land; surprised and in awe to finally witness Earth true form and her glorious gifts.

Sun, Water and Wind who was driven by rage once ago have finally found themselves again. Sun, shine his light merrily enough not to burn; while Water hurl her water towards the Sun and Wind spread them around where they fall like golden rain and quench the land. The pale green shoots darkened their color, increased in size then burst into flowers and trees. Within moments, the land was surrounded by a riot of flower, and trees. The scared animals, who fled the land and gone into hiding, return once again to live amongst the trees. 

The Dwellers offers their pledge of sincerity and respects towards the land and its fellow guardians.  Believed in the Dwellers’ sincere pledge, Earth once again returns to her slumber beneath the ground while Water returns to her river, lake and sea. Remain true to his words, Wind continues to watch over Earth from among the clouds while far above the sky, Sun cast his watchful eyes over the land. With all balance were restored, the land begins to live once more.

Nickelodeon's Avatar : The Last Airbender

We had Avatar : The Last Airbender cartoon stuck in our head while creating the draft. Its addictive! We kept on watching the series again and again. :D

Thank god our supervisor gave us a good green light to proceed with the story. However, due to time constrain, he suggested that we cut the story short.

That won't be a problem for sure! :D