Category: 3D Computer Animation Fundamentals

After reviewing the relevant video tutorials, I found that the custom facial editing function of Metahuman has a relatively limited adjustment range, which does not match the effect I wanted for the character model. After asking Serra’s guidance in the class, I learned a way to achieve a stylized Metahuman. This is the most convenient method for beginners that I have learned. Import the model into UE, create the Metahuman Identity, and then use this Identity to create the Metahuman Character.

In order to prepare for the creation of Metahuman Identity, I delved into the details of the model and placed the model at the collarbone of the character to facilitate the identification by the internal plugins of UE5.

This week I explored how to carve head portraits in Zbrush. This was an exercise to expand my knowledge, but I hope to use my own designed character image in the final piece instead of using an asset pack.

Regarding the process of the sculpture, I collected a large number of skulls, studied their postures, and made sure it was as close as possible to the original painting while adhering to the correct principles. Just at this stage, it took me approximately 12 hours.

At this same time, I realized that my time and energy were limited, and it was difficult to complete the modeling, texture painting, clothing design and animation binding of an entire character. Therefore, I considered whether I could use the Metahuman plugin in UE5. I had once watched a related demonstration video on Bilibili, where the face and body of the virtual figure could be customized by adjusting parameters, and real-time facial motion capture could be achieved through a link with iPhone’s live link.

This week, I spent time searching for UE5 assets suitable for the project style on the website. The first scene I envisioned was a car driving on a rural road, heading towards the protagonist’s new school. Since the new school was closed, I wanted the rural environment to be filled with natural scenery, and there to be no other vehicles or roads.

I found a set of tundra terrain assets, but it was a bit bare, so I looked for another set of plant assets and used the Foliage Mode to arrange their distribution.

I hope the overall scene is rather dark. I adjusted the Sky Light and Directional Light, but it was too dark. The colors of the terrain became indistinguishable and blurry. I adjusted the parameters of the Fog to create an atmospheric perspective and add a mysterious atmosphere.

The final result is quite impressive.

This week, I drafted the script outline for the short film project and created the characters for the two main protagonists. The female protagonist is Valandur, and the other one is Luken.

Storyboard

Basic storyline:

Valandur had just wrapped up her school year performance and was still lost in the dreamy atmosphere of the show and the feeling of parting with her classmates when she had to follow her parents to a drama school for further studies. This school was formerly the cultural and entertainment department during the war. It was here that she met a girl named Luken who claimed to be a vampire…

I named this project “Lilac”, and the inspiration for this name came from a song that had a profound impact on me when I ended my relationship with NPD.

Level Sequence

Research

My semester project starts from my encounter with NPD, but I adapt it into a surreal story. I will compare narcissists to vampires, but they do not possess the traditional aesthetic charm and perfect appearance. NPD strives to imitate magnificence and nobility, yet cannot hide the brutality and vulgarity in the details. These strange phenomena are clues to identifying narcissists.

In my portfolio, there is a blueprint story that I need to revise extensively. The starting point of that work lies in my childhood fascination with supernatural beings like vampires, focusing on their primal jungle nature and chaotic aesthetics. This might be related to my father’s behavior and my adolescent yearning for extraordinary figures, so this beautification might be a way to soothe myself. Vampires become radiant by sucking human blood, while NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder) steals the emotions, energy, talents, and lives of victims to sustain its narcissistic needs.

But I didn’t expect to make the image of vampires ugly. I’m very sad about this. But I need to make some non-traditional changes and get rid of the romanticized imagination in the theme films (Interview with the Vampire, Twilight), so that it can be recognized as some metaphors. This makes the vampires closer to the image in Nosferatu, which makes people feel uncomfortable when they are close to humans. But the attraction or sexual attraction between NPD and the victims is still very strong. In the early stage of the relationship, NPD will disguise itself as the perfect companion in the victim’s heart and establish a reward and punishment mechanism after the relationship is confirmed. This is a traumatic connection and has drug toxicity. Some interviewees of the victims tend to think that they cannot replicate this “sweet” or “impressive” relationship with others in a healthy relationship.

Another similar aspect is that the victims are almost unable to seek help from the outside. NPD is diagnosed as a disorder, mainly resulting from the trauma experience of being neglected by parents during childhood. It has the ability to spread intergenerationally and interpersonally, spreading within communities and having an entire survival system. They will look for golden boys, scapegoats, and flying monkeys in interpersonal relationships to build a network of relationships to leave the victims isolated and helpless. When NPD victims speak out about their experiences, they are often not believed, just as others cannot understand supernatural encounters. Except for other NPD victims, if a community where NPD victims can help each other is not established, those who escape from the NPD ecosystem will experience depression, and when they gradually realize how much they have paid in the past, they will feel an indescribable collapse and sadness.

During the healing process, the victim gradually becomes aware of the huge sunk cost they have paid, and sometimes the dopamine from the sweet-bombing period of the NPD can even brainwash them into thinking they should return to the “arms” of the NPD. The awakening victim regrets the lost life and is extremely frustrated, but they have to take responsibility for their own life, find their true self and path, cut off all ties with the NPD, and then live well.

The story structure of “Perfect Blue” and “Possession” is similar to that of NPD, a kind of horror film creature that imitates human behavior and takes its place. The tormenting scenes of NPD on the victims need to be thrilling, always on guard, and create illusions and exert control.

In terms of cinematography and art direction, a filter that balances suspense and subjectivity is used – in some scenes, it is romanticized, drawing inspiration from “All About Lily Chou-Chou”.

The ending is inspired by “Nostalghia”.

This week I got to know the basic functions of Unreal Engine 5.

I used UE5 before to create a scene preview using imported Mesh assets and Material assets. But UE5’s material editor is new to me. This week in class, Serra demonstrated a way to create luminous materials by it. It is a powerful function and reminds me to use it to polish my previous work.

The Level and Sub-Level can help control the in-game display. I think it can help me conduct some complex effect tests or create interesting scene transitions.

Some clues for the final assignment:

1. An experimental demo for the FMP, telling a story between 2 women and the feeling of goodbye and peaceful happiness.
2. It is probably a short interactive film, offering 2 choice for the audience.(Using sensor or Other Interactive devices)
3. It has a dark, fuzzy and realistic style, like All About Lily Chou-Chou.
4. I should design the characters, scenes and write the script in October.
5. I should make models for the main 2 characters, and make a layout in November.