Final Work

Ascendant

This week, I focused on final rendering and minor adjustments to wrap up my project.

At the same time, I also need to write a summary of the 10-week project.

Render

In Blender, there are many default settings that have little impact on the final output but can significantly increase render time. By optimizing these settings, I was able to greatly reduce rendering time — and in a project like this, time is one of the most valuable resources.

In After Effects, I completed the color grading and export settings. I also added sound effects to the video.

Reflection

Over the past ten weeks, I mainly focused on

• Learning an experimental robot design workflow.
• Gained a deeper understanding of mechanical structures, developed a basic knowledge of human muscle systems and body shapes.
• Improved both my skills and theoretical understanding of hard surface modeling.

Future work

In the future, based on this project, I may continue developing the story of what happens after the robot is deployed, exploring more in terms of animation and narrative.

Storyboarding and Animation

This week, I began working on the storyboard and animation. Although this project mainly focuses on robot design, animation is still a very important part of it. Through animation, I can better showcase my design and help the audience understand the details. It also allows me to spot areas that need improvement more effectively.

I used the elevator shaft scene to show the robot being assembled from the inside out as it gradually rises. This not only reflects my design concept but also adds more visual interest. I then added some close-up shots to highlight the robot’s appearance and detailed features. At the end, the hatch opens, leaving the scene on a suspenseful note as the robot prepares to deploy.

I achieved this effect in Blender by switching between multiple cameras.

Before the final render, I did some preview tests and camera checks to help me better control the pacing of the animation.

Refelction

The animation part may seem simple on the surface, but it actually requires a lot of planning. I need to manage my time carefully within the given schedule to achieve the best possible presentation.

Environment design

For the environment design, since the robot is heavily inspired by Evangelion, I decided to create a massive hangar space — something large enough to accommodate a robot of this scale.

After a series of adjustments and layout tests, I ended up with a scene that fits my robot design very well — a space filled with a strong industrial atmosphere. I used a vertical structural layout to emphasize a sense of depth and scale within the scene.

In preparation for the upcoming animation, I also added a vertical elevator shaft to the hangar structure, designed to transport the robot. This addition not only serves a narrative function but also adds another layer of complexity and realism to the environment.

With this, the scene design is mostly complete. The next stage will be a crucial one — developing the storyboard and animation.

Reflection

Scene design involves less modeling from scratch, but it places more emphasis on managing the overall composition. It requires coordinating assets from different sources and making sure their styles align, in order to build a cohesive and visually consistent environment.

Detail Refinement

At this point, most of the exterior design has been completed. However, with only the current components, the robot’s interior — especially the torso area — still lacks sufficient internal detail.

The next step will be to focus on filling out this section to enhance the overall structural complexity and visual richness.

I started by adding a spine structure, which will serve as a key visual anchor within the torso. This element not only reinforces the mechanical logic of the design but also adds a strong sense of complexity and depth to the interior.

I then added joints and some piping in key areas to further enhance the industrial feel of the overall design. These additions not only contribute to the visual detail but also help reinforce a sense of mechanical functionality throughout the model.

By now, the robot design is now largely complete. The next stage will focus on building and designing the environment in which the character will be placed.

Reflection

Although adding internal details may seem simple, figuring out how to fill as much space as possible using the fewest mechanical parts—without using too many resources—is significant. For example, more complex parts are needed at key points like joints, while simpler components are enough for smaller gaps and less critical areas.

Outer Shell Design and Refinement

This week, I moved on to designing and refining the robot’s outer shell. In the early stages, I used simple planes to block out the shell as a rough sketch — this approach made it easier to adjust and already conveyed around 60% of the final design, providing a helpful preview.

I carried out most of this workflow in Blender, as mesh-based modeling is more flexible for this phase compared to a CAD-style approach.

The outer shell design was primarily based on my earlier sketches, aiming to align closely with the internal skeleton. This helped avoid issues with proportions later on, such as parts appearing overly bulky or disconnected from the internal structure.

The next step was to add thickness and detailed elements to the outer shell. This process helped further enrich the design and give it a more mechanical, grounded feel. I referred to a variety of industrial components and incorporated some of those design elements into my own model.

With this, the outer shell design was mostly finalized.

Reflection

Although this week’s focus was still on hard surface design, the outer shell and the internal details followed different approaches. The details on the outer shell were developed more along the flow of surface lines, which helps make the design look more natural and visually appealing.

Muscle Structure Development

This stage mainly focused on the design of the muscle layer. In fact, there’s nothing particularly special about the modeling itself — the real challenge lies in understanding human anatomy. It’s a true test of fundamental skills. As long as the muscle layout follows accurate anatomical structure, the result can be visually appealing and well-balanced.I mainly based the muscle layout on the directional flow indicated in my sketches, using them as a guide to shape the volume and rhythm of the forms.

For each muscle bundle, I almost directly replicated the shape of human muscle structures. This combination makes the robot’s design more striking.

To make the muscle details more intricate and sci-fi-inspired, I added some small design elements and surface features.

Refelction

This week, I spent a lot of time studying human muscle structure and gained a better understanding of the overall flow of the muscles. However, I’m still not very skilled at applying it yet.

Design and Construction of the Internal Skeleton

This week, my main focus was on the design of the robot’s internal skeleton — the core framework that supports all external components. Since everything else will be built upon this structure, it’s a crucial step in the overall process.

While designing the skeleton, I also had to take into account the shapes and requirements of the outer elements. Rather than treating it as an isolated design, I approached it holistically to ensure consistency throughout the layers. Because this model relies heavily on a clear visual hierarchy, it’s important to consider how each part overlaps or interacts with others.

Shape Adjustment

Before moving forward with the next steps, I took some time to refine the character’s overall form. The goal was to make the silhouette more dynamic and to improve the proportions for a more balanced and believable appearance.

Building

I also explored a new CAD-based workflow using a software called Plasticity to better handle this more industrial design style. This approach proved to be more efficient for hard surface modeling, allowing for faster and more precise output.

Using the sketch as a reference, I made sure the form completely wrapped around the internal skeleton. This helps prevent the outer components from feeling overly bulky later on. After completing the modeling in Plasticity, I imported the model into Blender for the next stage. During this process, I referenced a wide range of industrial components to guide the design.

Reflection

This week’s focus was mainly on learning the software, but at the same time, my understanding of the underlying theory also deepened a bit. When adding details, it’s important to constantly remind myself that I’m working on something very small, so there’s no need to overcomplicate the design.

Drafting and Design Development

This week, most of my work focused on building the rough draft and establishing the main direction for the design. I experimented with several approaches, including both bulky and slender body types. However, I found that the bulkier design resulted in the muscle layer occupying too much space, which made it harder to maintain visual clarity and recognizability.

In the end, I chose EVA Unit 08 as the primary reference for my design. Based on that, I constructed the basic body structure and adjusted the overall posture. With this foundation in place, I’m now ready to move on to the next stage of the design process.

Although they may look somewhat similar at first glance, the underlying design approach is completely different. I believe that in the final piece, you’ll be able to see a distinct style emerge from this process.

At the same time, I began creating initial sketches for the robot’s muscle bundles and outer armor, which will go through several iterations in the coming stages.

I tried many different muscle forms and eventually realized that the human muscle structure is the most suitable.

The outer shell draft was still built based on the large body structure, and at this point, the direction of the final result is starting to become clear.

Reflection

This week’s learning deepened my understanding of blocking out shapes, human anatomy, and basic geometric construction.