Eagle Plane: Power and Precision

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EAGLE PLANE: Power and Precision

For this iconic concept, we were charged with creating a dynamic character that defined both power and precision. We looked to seamlessly combine all that defines the Eagle with the sleek elegance of a Plane, but to give the finished character personality, and a connection with the audience. Character Design is a specialty of the artists at Alice Blue, and it shows in each nuanced detail of our character. The overall style of the character and scene was mythical, and magical. Hand modeled feathers transition from eagle to metal, that elegantly defined the detail of the wings and tail.

For the world in which our character presides, we looked to create an environment that felt as majestic as the Eagle. Working with artist Jesse Zamjahn, we knew that his understanding of 3D environments and design, as well as lighting, would provide the right partnership for our team. Once our 3D world was created, we were able to angle and render alternate angles and scenes, adjust lighting for various times of day, and integrate with 6 different poses of our Eagle. Working in CGI allows you the ability to create a robust campaign for print and motion.

THE LANDSCAPE: Process

Our organic landscape allowed for various camera positions to extend the life of the campaign. Jesse used pine trees and scattered them onto relief maps of the rolling hills. He then worked to build and propagate plants on top of the contoured terrain. The tricky part was the volumetric clouds and haze in the trees. To create this in a natural way where the light caught the layers of fog, the top cloud layers and additional fog was built using a z-depth pass.

THE EAGLE: Character Design

The design of our Eagle plane needed to combine strength and grace, with a fierce spirit. After much research, Lena started with the noble golden eagle as her inspiration. With its wide and powerful wings and eyes that showcased strength and humanity, she felt it was the right starting point to detail from. On the metal wings, each feather was sculpted and painted separately to create a seamless transition between metal and bird. His face and eyes play a central role in his character development, allowing him to connect to the audience, portraying his powerful yet authentic persona.