Start with Research
Diving into research is my go-to approach for delving into any subject and sparking my inspiration. It’s the cornerstone of how I kick off all of my projects, including this one centered around Mistborn. Following my deep dive, I curated a mood board filled with captivating images, videos, quotes and ideas I stumbled upon. This mood board serves as my compass, guiding the visual direction and narrative trajectory of the project.
Continue Pre-production
I begin the visual planning by sketching a basic storyboard, gradually fleshing out each shot with more details before fine-tuning timing and structure. Moving over from sketches, I substituted them with simple 3D models and animated cameras crafted in Cinema 4D’s Viewport. This allowed me to build the initial cut of the animatic, paving the way for the refinement of each shot.
Create the Book
After acquiring a free-to-use model of a book, I customized it to align with my vision. Using Cinema 4D’s sculpting tools, I adjusted the asset to closely resemble my concept. I also replaced all the textures to enhance the overall appearance and bring the book in line with the aesthetic.
Mold a Coin to Meet the Aesthetic
To craft a coin suitable for the world of Mistborn, I combined various free-to-use models with my own modeling and texturing efforts. Using downloaded models as the foundation, I meticulously molded and textured a new coin to match up with the aesthetic of the fantasy universe.
Forge the Old Nails from Spikes
After modeling some basic spikes in Cinema 4D, I refined them using the Sculpt tool and applied textures to achieve the appearance of old, beaten up nails. I carefully textured each pin, beginning with editing a picture in Photoshop to create a tile.
Craft the Bracklets
For the bracelets, I wanted to include a diverse array of elements. Initially I downloaded a couple of free models to serve as the foundation. These underwent extensive modification using the sculpting toolset in Cinema 4D, as well as a complete retexturing. I created four unique bracelets from basic torus objects to mirror the intricate designs just as they’re depicted in the book.
Make Glass Vials
Starting with a cylinder, I carefully shaped the glass vials until they matched the intended basic form. Employing a Subdivision Surface, I then refined them to achieve a smoother finish.
Breaking the Vials
I created a simulation to drop a glass vial onto the floor, adjusting the collider to simulate friction and a slight bounce to mimic the shattering of glass. After refining the simulation, I implemented a Voronoi Fracture system to break the bottle into random pieces, with the focus on generating more fragments towards the bottom.
Microscopic Blood
Using X-Particles in Cinema 4D, I configured a simulation with a single emitter from a moving sphere. With a helix, I directed the particles using an xpFlowField, then generated an xpExplosiaFX simulation, configuring the parameters and using an xpKill modifier to eliminate unwanted particles.
Dripping Blood Effect
I created a simulation with a solitary emitter placed to emit from a circular source at the nail’s edge. Thanks to the xpFollowSurface modifier, I orchestrated the particles to adhere to the nail’s contours.
Narrative Symbolism
In Cinema 4D, I meticulously crafted the three symbols using a consistent approach to maintain not only a uniform appearance, but also a cohesive narrative. Each of the symbols – the nails, bracelets and bottles – represented a distinct form of magic.
Design Posters with AI Assistance
For the launch of the project campaign, I crafted three distinct posters, each representing one of the different forms of magic found within the Mistborn universe. Rendering a frame for each of these magic forms, I imported them into Photoshop. Using Adobe’s new Firefly AI tools, I created the top and bottom sections of the posters while referencing the existing frames for an accurate match.
Develop the Background
The same technique was used to create the smoke-mist backgrounds, with a distinct scene for each shot. In Cinema 4D, I developed a simulation using Pyro, adjusting parameters such as Voxel size, Density Buoyancy and Temperature Buoyancy.
Convert the Title to Mist
Here I used an old technique based on standard rendering in Cinema 4D, incorporating an Alpha channel with an animated 2D circular gradient overlaid with Turbulence. This material was applied to the extruded text for a disappearing effect.
Create the Flower
Using Firefly again, I crafted the flower featured beneath the book in one of the shots. The flower served as a pivotal element in the story, and drawing inspiration from the book’s description, I iterated multiple times, refining the text until it aligned with my vision.
Composite the Flower
After rendering, I transitioned to color grading in After Effects. With Red Giant and various plugins, I was able to craft the desired final look. To get depth of field, I used the Frischluft plugin for After Effects, initially rendering without depth, which could be enhanced later in post-production.
Conclusion
Throughout this project, I was able to combine my passion for fantasy literature and visual storytelling with my skills in motion graphics. The end result is a high-end motion graphics animation that brings the world of Mistborn to life. I hope that by sharing my process, others can learn from my experiences and apply them to their own projects.
FAQs
Q: What software did you use to create this project?
A: I used Cinema 4D and After Effects.
Q: What plugins did you use in Cinema 4D?
A: I used X-Particles and Red Giant.
Q: How did you create the blood effect?
A: I used X-Particles to create the blood effect, with a single emitter from a moving sphere and xpFlowField to direct the particles.
Q: How did you create the background?
A: I used Pyro to create the smoke-mist backgrounds, with a distinct scene for each shot.
Q: How did you create the flower?
A: I used Firefly to craft the flower, drawing inspiration from the book’s description and iterating multiple times to refine the text.
