Artist comments:
For years I have been following the CGSociety Challenges, looking with amazement at the stunning works of art that my favorite artists created. When I entered this challenge I had no idea of how enriching this experience would be. This eight week journey with my fellow challengers definetely pushed me to the limit and I would like to thank them for such great help and support. If you are willing to listen to what other people say, your work will raise to a whole new level. Knowledge and a great brotherhood spirit are the prizes that all contestants can be sure to take from these Challenges.
Judges' comments: Mark Snoswell: "Good lighting and a nice story twist."
Jon Rush: "There's a wonderful mood in this piece. I feel bad for the human, since mice and rats scare the crap out of me! Lots of nice details to look at, but they don't derail the composition. I like the rat tails forming the heart."
Martin Koehler: "Very narrative, overall well done!"
Choice of one of either Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3ds Max or Autodesk Softimage.
Vue 7.5 xStream
Luxology Modo 401
Corel Painter 11
Free subscription to ImagineFX Magazine (1 Year)
4 x Ballistic Publishing Books (Standard Edition)
CGS Membership (Standard - 1 Year)
Artist comments:
"I feel greatly rewarded to actually be part of the winners of this Challenge, alongside so many talented people, the experience of being connected to a group that is developing the same theme as you with different perspectives and interpretations was motivating, feedback exchange plays a lot in making decisions and finding direction, so I must give a big thank you
to everyone who supported me throughout the process.
The guideline for the contest was just too good that immediately ideas of conspiracy with a stylized visual concept came to my mind. From the beginning I wanted to try restrict the format to a movie still or a videogame cut scene, and keep it visually twisted and very atmospheric image. The great thing about participating is that i learned a lot designing the scene, playing around in new methods to me for develop images like using help of 3d basic shapes to establish compositions and perspectives and work above it in Photoshop, from that it was a back & forward experimental process trying to keep in mind the scene as a whole, I think that was the key to finish it. Events like this Challenge are great to push people both technically and artistically and certainly helped me to surpass the frustrations that come along when creating images, and i had great joy doing it."
Judges' comments: Jon Rush: "Terrific all around image: from the designs of the characters, to the composition as a whole. The lighting is awesome."
Martin Koehler: "Very nice environment and character work."
Artist comments:
"This feels great. I thought I had lost the challenge when I had to leave for home a couple of weeks before the deadline. The fellow CG challengers have been a great support and inspiration all the way. So big thanks to them.
Working on this looked really hard initially, as there was no time after work. But slowly things got better and I started getting used to it. I had this idea of a trivial day in the life of a usual 9 to 5 guy. And things change and reveal his true colors in the last act. I hope to do more than a 30 sec trailer in near future. And this certainly is a great motivation to do so.
Judges' comments: Alexandra Ciolac: "Lovely graphic style. I believe this piece is the best expression of the classic secret agent concept. Nicely timed animation consistent with the style, full of life characters. Great eyes and facial animations."
Marc Mordelet: "Something between Cobra and dirty harry. Great animation and beautifull music. I wish to see this on tv."
Video Individual Master Award 'Run for the Artifact'
Aurelien Rantet
(Aurel0988)
FRANCE
Artist comments:
"I'm pretty new in the CG world so this award is a real honor for me, especially considering the level of the other participants. When I saw the theme of this challenge I could not resist participating in it. It's a kid's dream to be a secret agent! It was really fun to imagine the story and bring it to life, so i'm really happy that people like it. Thanks to everyone who offered me encouragement and critics during my work."
Judges' comments: Alexandra Ciolac: "Nice twist to the story."
Hal Milton: Wow! Great gags, great designs, fantastic spy moments. I really wanted this to keep going. I really mean it about the gags. The climax of the big sentry bot encounter killed me. This tells an amazingly satisfying story by brilliantly squeezing meaning into every single second on screen. Once again, you individual contributors scare me with your giant, assumed to be pulsing, brains!"
Marc Mordelet: "Amazing sense of colors. How can a young man do all of this professional work alone? I am feeling old now."
Choice of one of either Autodesk Maya, Autodesk Max or Autodesk Softimage.
Houdini Master
Craft Director Studio Master Bundle
Stash 6 Pack bundle
4 x Ballistic Publishing Books (Standard Edition)
Free subscription to ImagineFX Magazine (1 Year)
CGS Membership (Standard - 1 Year)
Video Team Master Award 'Agent Omicron'
Goro Fujita (Goro)
Kory Heinzen
Nico Sanghrajka
Ryosuke Fujita
GERMANY
Artist comments:
"We are very excited to be honored with the Secret Agent Challenge Master Award.
We had tons of fun creating this project and are very pleased with the result! Our idea was to create an intro sequence for an imaginary TV series called 'Agent Omicron'.
The inspiration came from 80's Japanese animation shows like Lupin the 3rd and Cowboy Bebop
mixed with some more modern motion graphics and sensibilities. Because we all have full time
jobs, families and other interests we knew it was going to be a tough journey from start to finish.
Luckily the collaboration between the team mates was incredibly smooth and everybody worked very fast and focused. We couldn't have asked for a better working experience and outcome.
Thanks goes to our friends and families who had live with us during the last couple of weeks of
the challenge. And a special thanks to the organizers here at CGTalk and to all the people who
visited our thread and gave us words of advise and encouragement.
Judges' comments:
Tomasz Jedruszek: "Another classic, but completly different technique this time, very nice final effect."
