Dee Divakaran: Motion Graphics

Motion Reel

Compiled to highlight the best moments, this motion reel offers a glimpse into my evolving set of multidisciplinary skills.

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PROJECTS AND PROCESS BREAKDOWNS

The following projects were completed throughout my academic journey at Savannah College of Art and Design. 

Event Promotion: Rickshaw Run '24

Embark on a cinematic journey through the Himalayas with this event promo for Rickshaw Run. Explore the rugged terrains and vibrant cultures while celebrating the spirit of adventure that defines this adrenaline-fueled off-roading event.

Softwares: Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Substance Painter, Maya, Houdini, Redshift.

Project Duration: 10 Weeks.

I worked with Photoshop and the 3D Mapper plugin to generate and clean up the map for this shot. First, I grabbed GPX data from Google Maps and plugged it into 3D Mapper to generate a map of the intended area. The generated map layers were enhanced by erasing and painting on extra design details. The final layers were imported into After Effects for additional processing and animation.

I recreated the event logo in Illustrator and painted a few color maps in Procreate. The exported color maps, along with the illustrator logo file were imported into After Effects for editing and animation. 

My Task Breakdown

1. Pre-Production: Event research, concept art & gathering references.

2. Production: Designing decal graphics on the rickshaw’s outer body, 2D map graphics design and animation, Souvenir shot 3D Modeling (all except the elephant), texturing, lighting, and animation (all souvenir objects).

3. Post-Production: Design and animation for the tagline and event logo.

TEAM CREDITS: 

Dee Divakaran - Rickshaw Concept Art, 2D Graphics Design and Animation, Layout, Look Development & Lighting || Yeona Choi - Storyboarding, Layout, Look Development & Lighting || Mateo Solorzano – Compositing, Editing, Layout, Look Development & Lighting || Zach Jantz - FX & Rigging || Hannah Spillers – Animation || Bella So - Sound Design || Robin Uotila - Music Editing

Commercial: Vosges Haut-Chocolat

This Vosges chocolate commercial aims to introduce and promote the product Blossom Bunnies (a fictional product) as a luxurious and indulgent treat for Easter celebrations.

Softwares: Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Maya, Houdini, RealityScan, Substance Painter, Redshift.

Project Duration: 10 Weeks.

The CG layout was roughed out in Houdini and then imported into Maya to sculpt and add details. It was then imported back into Houdini for look development and lighting. While the process seems tedious, it helped increase my overall efficiency and problem-solve using different methods.

To visually connect the CG shot with the live-action integration shot, I scanned the prop gold bunnies using RealityScan. The models were then imported into Maya for cleanup, and brought into Houdini for texturing and lighting. 

Below is the package design evolution. Using the original branding as inspiration, I worked on the product's brand design using Illustrator and exported different details as black and white images. The images were then used as brushes in Substance Painter to paint details on to the chocolate box model. The leaves surrounding the frame were free-hand painted on to the package in Substance Painter. 

The tagline frame was designed in Illustrator and combined with text in After Effects. I created a few reflection maps and setup a control system to make the tagline look more 3D and gold. An animated mask was used to fade in the tagline and also tracked to include the subtle push in of the camera movement from the original footage. 

Here are a few process snapshots from the set and props design process. 

My Task Breakdown:

1. Pre-Production: Brand research, Moodboard creation, Gathering product references, Storyboarding, Location scouting for live-action shoot, Material sourcing for set design, Concept art.

2. Production: Set design for live-action shoot, Painting prop eggs, Product package design, 3D modeling & layout, Look Development, Lighting for CG shot.

3. Post-Production: Editing, Tagline design, animation and tracking.

Team Credits:

Dee Divakaran - Art Director, Producer, Motion Designer, Set Designer & CG Generalist ||  Yanni He - FX Artist || Sai Shashank - Compositor || Sawyer Bisson - Sound Designer || Mateo Solorzano - Director of Photography || Donnie Abrahamson - Filming Assist || Cynthia Soe - Prop Designer

Pitch Boards: Delirium Commercial

Connected through postcards, this commercial pitch board for Delirium portrays the journey of their products, passed from one person to another across the globe. Focusing on tangible connections, the narrative illustrates the brand's international appeal as it spreads naturally through shared experiences. I was responsible for all aspects of this project.

Softwares: Photoshop and Illustrator.

Project Duration: 3 Weeks.

3D Still Life Series

Still life as a subject has always interested me due to its ability to capture the beauty of everyday objects through unique compositions. Here’s a series of 3D still life I created using a range of different softwares and techniques.

Antiques

A trip to my local antique store inspired this project. I was responsible for all aspects of this piece.

Softwares: Maya, Substance Painter, Vray

Project Duration: 3 Weeks

Pumpkin Globe

To capture the essence of Halloween, I composed a still-life piece that subtly evoked the holiday's themes while maintaining the classic attributes of a still life. I was responsible for the look development and lighting for this piece. The model of the glass pumpkin was modified to better art-direct the piece as well.

Softwares: Maya and Renderman

Project Duration: 2 Weeks.

Blue Teapot

This project was inspired by eclectic tea pot designs. Tasks such as modeling, importing geometry, applying texture maps, and lighting were all executed using OSL code, bypassing traditional user interfaces. Additionally, the asset resembling a flower (behind the teapot) was generated using a MEL script in Maya. The final composition was rendered using Renderman.

Coding Languages: OSL (Open Shading Language) and MEL (Maya Embedded Language)

Project Duration: 2 Weeks.

Animated Illustrations: Healing Scepters

Inspired by the art of Sailor Moon and Little Witch Academia, here are four healing scepters I designed in Illustrator and animated in After Effects. They are named after four of Jupiter's moons: Amalthea, Elara, Cyllene, and Eirene. 

Softwares: Illustrator & After Effects.

Project Duration: 1 Week.

Thank you for watching!

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