LogInThe character's scarf is a masterpiece in and of itself.
Regan Tang, a 3D Character Animator and Co-Founder of ThunderRoar Studio, has once again impressed the community with a stunning showcase, this time offering a behind-the-scenes look at a dynamic sequence he animated a few years ago.
Depicting a swift ninja stylishly taking down a group of samurai warriors, the animation was prepared for a short trailer celebrating the 2022 launch of the combat ninja runner mobile game, Ninja Must Die 3, in Japan. Despite appearances, the animation was made entirely in 3D and rendered in 2D style to resemble the traditional Chinese art style featured in the game itself.
According to Regan, he was responsible for all the aspects of the showcased sequence – from layout to the final polishing. Although he didn't mention the specific tools used, it is confirmed that the team behind the trailer utilized software like Cinema 4D, Arnold, Maya, Houdini, and Nuke, so it's likely that Regan employed some or all of these tools in his work.
"We tried the combination of two-dimensional hand-painted maps and three-dimensional models, hoping to be different from traditional CG," the 2022 trailer's description reads. "Character dynamics is based on the characteristics of the game, and it is hoped that there will be a more exaggerated and distorted presentation in the lens perspective to enhance the emotional rendering during the fight."
For fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Regan Tang's name might ring a bell. Previously, the artist and his team at ThunderRoar wowed everyone with their outstanding stylized animation depicting Azula easily defeating a sword-wielding thug:
And prior to that, Regan presented a personal Houdini/Maya-made animation featuring Aang himself:
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