SMU Guildhall Graduate Catalog — 2024 Cohort 32 | Page 18

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Haoxiang Sun
Art Creation
Sci-Fi Character Creation with Focus on Multi-Limb Rigging and Visual Effects
This artifact is a Sci-Fi Character Creation that was created in Unreal Engine 5 with an emphasis on multi-limb rigging and visual effects . The idea generation phase of the thesis project focused on the rigging of a sophisticated character model and the production of special effects for this character . The character ’ s artwork is stylized and made of simple materials . This thesis aimed to improve character design competency . It involved developing a character concept based on real-world references and investigating color and shape theories to provide a strong basis for character design . Moreover , the project sought to develop a character model that was fully functioning and was founded on the conceptual framework . It also aimed to measure technical art proficiency by researching and creating character-specific rigging and visual effects systems .
To achieve these goals , a great deal of research was done on the morphology and mechanical structures of insects , which served as sources for character design elements . I examined the concept working pipeline tutorials and implemented them in the procedure . Then the students and art faculties were surveyed for feedback . Different methods of character rigging in Maya were examined and thorough testing was done to find the ideal rigging sequences that avoided potential issues .
To make it easier to create compatible visual effects for the character , I examined theories about the Niagara VFX system . In the Unreal Engine 5 project , these theories were implemented and improved in response to input from art faculty members .
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