Rebelway FX Challenge

I added a "magic" sphere-assistant, which will later have some FX. I am using that as a signal of sorts of what's happening in the scene. 

It's been a long time since the last update. During this time I was learning different things in Houdini like vortex\tornado effect, pyro simulation, and stuff. 

For now, I animated the cyborg's mana conversion device which hovers behind his back. Added a little rotation animation to it.

These past two days I was learning new stuff in Houdini. For now, I've got basic setups done for the effects like shield and cyborg's attack. Also, in Houdini, I modeled a device for a cyborg that will hover behind his back. Though we won't see it much in the video. 

Cyborg's device that will help him absorb surrounding mana and transform into electricity.

I want to add a particles-based or water-like effect in the middle of it and when the cyborg is preparing for an attack it will turn into a vortex. That's the idea but not sure how to do it yet. 

I was watching Steven Knipping's pitch for this contest and his words got stuck in my head. Especially, arctic environment. Quite an exciting ice breaker to have with Houdini(pun intended). 

I got the basic idea outlined in my head quite fast. I took main shots to make a simple storyboard for the entry.  

The story I am thinking of is a monster tracking mission. The cyborg model looks quite techy so I am sticking to it but he is a magician cyborg. 

In the world where these two characters reside magic is everywhere. Monsters are able to use magic due to their heart being fused with mana - basically, a mana core that we all know from animes, mangas, and stuff. While cyborg has an artificial mana core that creates an electric current infused with mana. Both of them use mana in the air to do magic. Monster does it unconsciously and invisible to a human eye while the robot has a system to help his mana core absorb the mana around. 

I am drawing inspiration from real life and games, in particular, WoW, Overwatch, StarCraft, and Diablo IV. I liked the colors in WoW cinematics: purple vs gold. That's probably why I am going to use them as well, maybe? Other stylized references are from Pinterest and Stylized Station's YouTube video titled "Best Game VFX of 2020 so far"(might be wrong).

Also, got to see a submarine emerge from under the ice.