TBWA: Lend a Helping Hand

The challenge: to create (6) unique and ownable helpers in the office, representing ease, organization, and focus. They do not have apparent quirks or personality traits. Their goal is not to distract or bring focus directly to them, they are there to help while the busy day unfolds.

Our Helpers were created in the same visual style, with their outfits each a distinct brand color. The Helpers’ facial expressions should be non-descript, but positive. They should feel androgynous, and beyond that they should not feel totally human. Realistic but also simple in form, expressing exaggerated fluidity. Texture played a huge role in their design, as the list of things it should NOT be, limited many attributes that it COULD be.

A character design challenge that tapped into every facet that is Alice Blue – creative, deep understanding of designing for both stills and motion, and a lot of patience, to land upon a design that delighted all involved.

Character Design

We had a ball working through the character design process with The Helpers. As with any character design, we like to get the competitive juices flowing. Multiple artists are tasked with designs that range from 2D sketches, to 3D sketches, based on the work process of the artists. We provide (3) designs for the agency/client to see a wide variety of approaches. One is selected and that moves into the character creation process.

Modeling

Each character is created in a T-Pose. This allows for symmetry and precise detailing to be mirrored on each side. When moving into rigging and posing, this will ensure fluidity of the intricate details. Each helper in this stage, will showcase any detailing that is incorporated into their structure. Though a rudimentary form with a grey model, you begin to see the shape and their personality start to take form. We will start to test posing at this stage to inform the modeling details.

Texture/Detail

Each character has such intricate detail. This process was painstaking to provide textural variation, all within a one color palette for each character. From the sheen of the shoes, to the nubby sweater texture, each detail is well thought out and intentional.

Make em move!

These characters are MADE TO MOVE! With a rigging system in place we were able to create a series of simple, but fun actions, where each character could move with their props in 3-5 second clips. This allows a smaller file size, for banners, and website accents. Their limbs flexible and spring like, accentuates their stealth action, as they move throughout the scene aiding and helping within the scene as True Helpers always do!

Alice Blue Production Studio

Agency: Alice Blue Studio

Character Design: Chris Warden, Lena Pigareva, Cristina Peters, Howard Winterson

Executive Producer: Meredith Ott

Motion Creative Director: Kris Rivel

Character Creation: Chris Warden, Howard Winterson

3D Environments: Lena Pigareva

3D Talent: Lena Pigareva, Chris Scalf

Art Director: Cristina Peters

Animation: Kris Rivel, Dan Barker