'HAKO'

July 17, 2024

As the final project for the Multimedia Degree at the School of Media Arts and Design of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto (ESMAD P.PORTO), a 3D animation short film was developed.

This animation was created in collaboration with Álvaro Miranda.

Exposition in the Bang Awards Animation Festival, Torres Vedras, CAC - 2024 BANG AWARDS PROGRAM

Nominated for "Best Animated Film" at the Ymotion Youth Film Festival in Famalicão - 2024 Ymotion Festival

Animation Synopsis:

The story takes place during one of the routine days of Mei, a young woman tormented by recurring dreams of a mysterious box adorned with a lotus flower. When the box begins to appear in her real life, Mei embarks on a journey of self-discovery to uncover its secrets and confront repressed memories.

Technical Process

The animation was created using the 3D software Blender, employing various methods for character modeling, texturing, and rigging. A visual style was used that allowed working with objects without UV maps, as it utilized world coordinates instead of object coordinates (left figure). For the cel-shading (right figure), a simple node was used to transform the light into one color and the shadow into another, thus maintaining a constant visual distinction between reality and the dream.

Animation Process

In the animation process, two different methods were followed: Keyframe Animation and Motion Capture. Depending on the animation and its demands, these two methods were extensively used, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Keyframe Animation: On one hand, it allows for greater control over the animation and its timing; however, it was a more time-consuming process and could result in movements that were less human-like and smooth.

Motion Capture: While it saves time, it requires many corrections and adjustments, which can often be difficult to fix (e.g., walking) and can sometimes result in awkward movements.