LilCloud comes to life
Client
Dick Hoogeveen
Our role
Concepting
Character Animation
Motion Design
Deliverable
Animated series
Date
Q1 2021
Sometimes a project comes along that you know, this is so unique and we can't just let it pass us by. Several years ago, we came in contact with writer Dick Hoogeveen who had a special question for us: whether we wanted to bring his beloved 2D character LilCloud, also known as Wolleke, to life in 2D or 3D for a new animated series.
Perhaps the friendly cloud looks familiar to you from children's books and TV. From the first moment, the entire team threw themselves wholeheartedly into this special project.
Trailer for funding
In the end, the question turned out to encompass much more. Initially, we would explore what styles and techniques were best suited to visualize the character, with the goal of a proof of concept.
After this initial process, we continued our collaboration in which we actually made LilCloud come to life and developed a real trailer or "Origin Story. The trailer is an important element in finding the right partners and investors for the realization of a 3D LilCloud animated series. This way, investors get a good idea of the high quality and essence of the stories and characters.
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3D for the win!
We started researching the appropriate style and technique we could use to do justice to the character.
This made for some great forays into different possibilities. In the end, we ended up with a 3D character that we wanted to keep very close to the original, despite the associated challenges. The final delivery was a great success. We were even able to make the client happy with a stuffed toy that we had recreated based on the 3D model. This beautiful conclusion was the starting signal for an even more beautiful follow-up project.
How to move forward?
After determining the style, it is important to make a plan with the team for the next steps. Since there is a chance that after the realization of the trailer, an even bigger production is on the horizon.
We started an extensive search for: custom made music, a suitable voice-over, 3D character rigging, environments, materials & textures; we went through all possible developments. A big job that only increased our enthusiasm!
Just rig it!
There is more to developing a 3D character than you might initially think.
With the stuffed animal as inspiration, we started working out the Wolleke character and determining the right materials and textures. Sometimes the wool seems almost indistinguishable from real. Then we "rigged" the character; that is, we gave her a skeleton with muscles and joints so LilCloud can actually move. Ready for the next phase: animation. High quality 3D renders and a walkcycle were the result: beautiful milestones that we proudly presented. For us this felt like a small step in the process, but here LilCloud took her first steps and the quality of the production skyrocketed.
"The Characters - from LilCloud to all her friends - are simply beautiful to look at. The 2D visual linework has often been described as being, 'exceptionally distinct and unique'."
Dick Hoogeveen
Writer & Illustrator LilCloud
The world of LilCloud
Of course, the animation is made up of more elements than just the LilCloud character.
Based on the scenario, written by Dick Hoogeveen, we built the remaining elements and environments from the LilCloud world. The landscape, flowers, trees, birds, you name it. With the music and voice-over, we could start animating the entire timeline. It is the phase where everything comes together and the laid base and atmosphere comes to life before your eyes.
It's a wrap!
LilCloud is a project we are incredibly proud of.
The presentation of the trailer turned out to be a great success and the fine cooperation and involvement of the client gives this project a golden edge. A project in which an important, next step is taken: financing! With the trailer, LilCloud's team sets out to make the realization of the first season of the 3D LilCloud animated series a reality.
"Achieving similar credentials in animating LilCloud in 3D was no sinecure but our synergy with AlienTrick matched perfectly. Their trick to re-animate LilCloud from 2D to 3D was admirable. AlienTrick secured our character with the correct impression of being a pure and precious little lamb!"
Dick Hoogeveen
Writer & Illustrator LilCloud
Contact
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Raymond
Strategy Director and co-founder
