Week 7

This week I started by reviewing our group’s allocated production bible, the Crimson Leopard. The concept immediately stood out through its mix of 1920s flapper culture, Art Deco luxury design, and surreal mushroom-inspired forms. The character, Genevieve Joiryde, is described as a flamboyant, thrill-seeking partygoer who races a modified Louisiana riverboat at night. I thought this combination of vintage glamour and absurd fun really inspiring because it gives the project personality and stylisation.

As a team we discussed how to maintain the playful, top-heavy “mushroom” silhouette while ensuring it still holds well in 3D. We agreed that the exaggerated hat and feather boa are key to her visual identity.

When comparing this design language with existing references such as Mario Kart’s fantasy racers and Art Deco yachts like the Sycara IV, I noticed that both combine nostalgia and futurism through geometric curves and symmetry. This convinced me to push for smooth, flowing forms rather than mechanical realism. Our goal is to translate that spirit of motion and luxury into 3D shapes that can be subdivided cleanly in Maya.

Overall, I feel confident about our visual direction. The challenge will be balancing stylisation and technical accuracy, making sure Genevieve and her boat look cohesive while still being a part of the 1920s inspiration.

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