snowfox computer animation - Rachel the Rocket

Scott Hamm
3D Modeler/Animator
Instructional Learning Consultant
hamms@umich.edu

Rachel the Rocket

Rachel the Wonderful Rocket (below left) was a mascot in a short science film about the solar system which has being reinvented for the new dome projection system at the University Planetarium. The new mascot makes the transition from 2D to 3D.

The model was required to be fairly simple and streamlined. Close details, like rivets, panels or text, would be lost in almost all of the production as the mascot's role is to introduce planets and other high resolution celestial bodies, which typically dwarf her on the dome screen.

Matt Linke, the professor in charge of the project, agreed that a plump, 1950's style rocket would look best. In the first draft, above, I emulated a somewhat corroded, aluminum alloy surface with a bright highlight.

As Rachel would usually be seen against a black space background, dark grey fins and arms were replaced with high contrast yellow.

In the new model, the porthole figures as a face, upon which Stephen Eberle of the Duderstadt Center's Video Studio composited a 2D, lip-synced cartoon. Rachel's tasks mostly consist flying around and gesturing.

Click to view a short clip in .mov format:
point right
wave

To the right is a shot of Rachel composited into the final presentation. I did not have any input regarding the pixelated eyes and mouth, a 2D rendered addition.

The digital movie has been distorted for projection on a dome, resulting in the image distortion around the perimeter.

Lip-synced Rachel


	back to top