Friday, December 8, 2023

Original Fear Effect Facial Animation Concepts for the PSOne game


 Back in the late '90s, Kronos Digital Entertainment took on an exciting challenge with the game Fear Effect for the Playstation One. Among other things, we had our sights set on something unique —animating the faces of video game characters during cut scenes, a move that wasn't very common at the time for PSOne games. 

I came across some exploratory sketches I had done to pitch the idea of animated faces and find each character's personality performance.  This lead to the game eventually utilizing digitally hand painted, hand keyed, texture swapping to match the dialogue in the scene, along with deformation around the mouth when it opened.  

Final facial textures were created by Joan Igawa.



Hana Tsu Vachel's name was Petra (as well as Mara) in the early stages of development (1998)





Jin's pre-production name was "Gino".    Hana's shady employer.  https://feareffect.fandom.com/wiki/Jin










Monday, December 4, 2023

AI Film making apps. Trying to keep up.

Hidden Path D&D Night. Episode 9: Island of Chult. Finale

 

Our protagonists found themselves transported to the enigmatic island of Chult, where they were greeted by Imbok, a frog-like humanoid serving as the Agency's designated contact. 




Imbok promptly assumed the role of their guide, leading the party through the perilous terrain to the ominous tombs of the Demi Lich, Acerebak. Their primary objective was to collect the elusive dust of the Demi Lich and safely return it to the agency. This supernatural substance held the key to expelling Acerebak for good, and if circumstances allowed, eliminating the formidable adversary altogether was considered an even more favorable outcome.



Into the tomb the party ventured, encountering an ancient room adorned with a central sarcophagus and peculiar tiles on the floor. A deceased warrior lying on one of the tiles hinted at a trap, urging the group to unravel the puzzle. Yvon the Tiefling Bard took flight, reaching the sarcophagus and deciphered a code that unveiled the safe path through the perilous tiles.



With the trap averted, the party opened the crypt, only to be confronted by four skeletal warriors. 



Swiftly overcoming this bony opposition, they revealed an ancient staircase leading 
deeper into the tomb.

Descending further, the heroes came upon a congregation of undead Dwarfs within a library cloaked in a sickly green fog. Dispatching them effortlessly, the party utilized potent magical fire spells.
 


Progressing into the next room, they stumbled upon a vast chamber with molten lava, and atop a stone balcony overlooking them stood Acererak, the ominous figure they sought.






Aided by Midjourney


Monday, November 27, 2023

Lunch in Manhattan (my first animated short film)

 

Wow.  Look what I stumbled upon on Archive.org! It's my first go at creating a traditional animated short, using the equipment available at the Capital Children's Museum Animation Lab in Washington DC a long time ago.  The internet truly does preserve everything, forever.

Music by Steve Murphy




Saturday, November 4, 2023

Hidden Path D&D Night. Episode 8: Shadowfell part 2


In a realm where the mysterious Planescape Beacons held the power to transport brave souls to otherworldly destinations, our intrepid heroes, Drogan Stonefist, Torsten and Skra-aa found themselves drawn to the enigmatic Shadowfell. Their mission was as mysterious as the shadowy realm itself: locate the Grey Husk Tree, the guardian of a vital Planescape Beacon. Alas, the tree's location remained shrouded in secrecy. Unfazed by the darkness that surrounded them, they were to seek the guidance of Professor Bonklewinks, a distinguished master of contraptions and arcane lore.

Upon their arrival at the Professor's infamous Constructor Lab, they were greeted by a scene of utter chaos. The lab was a maze of mechanical mayhem, its security systems turned against them. Oscar the Golum, a peculiar but friendly construct, extended a warm welcome, but their conversation was abruptly interrupted when quaddrones, mechanical assailants, assaulted the lab. 



After the intense skirmish, Romeo, an animated rug outside the professor's lab, was caught in a perplexing misinterpretation. He genuinely believed that his wild movements were harming the heroes, when in reality, they were providing unexpected comfort and assistance.


After deftly navigating a labyrinth of traps within the perilous laboratory, they managed to locate the unconscious Professor Bonklewinks. Swift thinking and a life-giving potion brought him back from the brink, and in gratitude, he bestowed upon them his loyal construct, Delta, a prized asset in their pursuit of the Grey Husk Tree.

As the Silver Alliance waited patiently nearby, Drogan, Torsten, and Skra-aa, joined by their steadfast companion Delta, made their way toward the imposing Grey Husk Tree. The construct began its relentless task of cutting into the colossal husk, to unveil a concealed portal within. 


As Delta chipped away at the giant tree, a horde of Husk Zombies emerged, staunch defenders of their ancient guardian. It was a harrowing battle, but with Delta's might and their unwavering resolve, they overcame the onslaught. The Husk Tree fell, reveiling the portal.  One by one, they entered, leaving the eerie shadowy realm of the Shadowfell behind.

Upon a sudden teleportation, the group finds themselves in the dimly lit interior of a cavern. Before them stretches a cavernous expanse, adorned with a large, mysterious pool of inky water that glistens in the faint light. Their attention is immediately drawn to a lifeless Tabaxi, a figure known to them as "Knocks Over Glass." They remember him vividly from their earlier encounter, but now he lies as a lifeless husk beside the pool. In an eerie and unexpected turn of events, Knocks Over Glass communicates with them telepathically, his voice resonating within their minds.




"You have come! I didn't think you'd make it this far. I'm sorry if my appearance is unfamiliar to you. I must admit, I didn't think much of you when I first laid eyes at the Tree of Remembrance. But you found me there, and I found you. I can guide you to where you need to be, just as I've tried to guide you for so many rotations. And here you are!

The Planescape Beacon is here, but I'm afraid it's too late. You must go and find the Dark God himself. Find a way to push him, find a way to relocate him to a place where he cannot be found.

You search for Xangolieth the Wakener. I will open a portal to the Astral Beyond.  I used to be one of his servants, but I broke free from his domination. I'm considered a traitor by him."

Alarm! His loyalists are near. Guard yourselves. Be cautious with this one; it knows too much!"

A one eyed creature with blood soaked tentacles rises up from the murky water and speaks to our heroes.

"Ahhhh.  I am the Nightmare of Xanathar himself, freed from the shackles of Waterdeep.  Now I can pursue the machinations of my new master.  Zacholiouthoun wishes to wake the sleeping.  He wishes to wake us all from this horrible place.  This terrible existance of pain.  Let me show you how to awaken."


Drogan and Torsten, alongside their ally Skra-aa, confronted the formidable giant Abolith in a battle of breathtaking intensity. Sinuous tentacles from the beast ensnared both Torsten and Drogan, but their unyielding resolve drove them to break free, allowing them to resume their relentless assault on the monstrous creature.

In the midst of the chaos, Skra-aa demonstrated unparalleled finesse, wielding her razor-sharp daggers to deliver a flurry of calculated strikes against the Abolith. Ultimately, it was Skra-aa's decisive blow that sealed the fate of the creature, marking the culmination of their hard-fought victory.


Left to Right:  
Drogan Stonefist the Dwarf Barbarian; Torsten the Dwarf Fighter; Skra-aa the Kenku Wizard

In Front: Corpse of  Xanathar Nightmare

Friday, November 3, 2023

Hidden Path D&D Night. Episode 7: Shadowfell

     Our valiant heroes pressed on with unwavering determination, embarking on their mission to journey into the enigmatic realm of The Shadowfell. This dark and mysterious land was the eerie dwelling place of a peculiar breed of undead known as shadows. Their quest was twofold: to seek out Lady Shar, the enigmatic guardian of The Shadowfell, and to put an end to the relentless pursuit of the mysterious necromancer encased within a menacing mechanical suit.

Their journey was aided by the power of an Archon Tracker, teleporting themselves into a dark cave teeming with bats and their highly flammable guano. 



Skillfully evading this combustible threat, they stumbled upon a colossal black curtain, which, as it turned out, concealed a teleportation device to either the other side of their current dimension or into an entirely different one, contingent upon the activation of a concealed switch. 

With resolve in their hearts, they ventured to the other side, only to be confronted by ancient vampires, desperate to thwart their advance. 


As tension mounted, the nefarious necromancer made a grand entrance within his towering mechanical suit, seeking to eliminate our heroes. 


However, their astute observation of the suit's vulnerability to electricity led to its swift disposal, leaving them poised to continue their quest undeterred.




Aided by Midjourney 

Monday, October 30, 2023