sci-fi monster concept

[JoeyStone]

HI everyone. This is a creature design I've been working on for my friends story. Its supposed to be a gigantic alien mindless destroyer kinda thing. Still playing with concept, so I would really appreciate any comments, crits, and/or suggestions. Thanks!

P.S.: Main body is 100% zBrush, tentacles are Maya, then added as a subtool back in Z and rendered.

[John Hill]

It's form, specifically it's head is a little ambiguous. There isn't enough definition to really tell what it is we're looking at. On the closeups of the closed mouth head, I really had to think to figure out what body part I was looking at. I would work on defining the connection of the head to the rest of the body more dramatically, also, perhaps some definition on the lips, or where the mouth connects when it closes, so it reads better.

The arms and tentacles seem fine, though the tentacles don't seem to really be connected to the creature, they don't share it's ridgelike qualities, etc. It's chest area seems fine as well, except where it goes back to connect to the tentacles, where the structure gets a little muddled.

Also, how does it move? Like, propel itself on the ground, or through the air, or through space itself? I'm asking this out of curiosity more than critique. Does it drag itself along with it's scythe like arms and tentacles?

[JoeyStone]

Thanks for the comments, John.
In the initial planning and sketching stages of this, the effect that I was after was for the creature to be as disconnected as possible to the structural design of the animal species we're familiar with. I didn't want someone to look at it and easily associate it with any kind of animal on the planet. It's supposed to be an alien, after all.

The head and face design was kind of tough and went through a couple of revisions because I wanted, like I said above, it to be as alien as possible. I also tried to make it as simple as possible as well, in order to deal with the difficulty of recognition that results from those design goals. (Plus, I have to admit that I was flying by the seat of my pants most of the time; I'm by no means experienced with 3DCG)

The creature is ultimately going to be drawn by hand in a comic by someone else, so my next step is going to be to provide a breakdown into the base geometric construction forms. Before I do that, I'd like to have the design nailed down as much as possible, so if you could elaborate on the changes you think would help, I'd appreciate it.

About the tentacles: the idea with them was that they would be retracted most of the time and then would shoot out suddenly to grab the target, holding on just long enough to be shredded by the scythe-like arms. So, I intentionally left them looking soft and smooth in contrast to the rest of the creature's body, as I envisioned them to be rubbery and flexible, not too tough. I suppose they could stand a treatment of some detail, but if so, it won't be the same type as the main body. I'll work on that. I'll also come up with a new pose or two to illustrate the mechanics of how they would shoot out to grab.

To answer your questions on how it moves, my idea was to make the underside look like tire treads so that it could slither along like a cross between a snake and a snail. Also it has definite segments to the tail part so that it could fold like an accordion and lunge forward in a sudden burst. Hope that makes sense.

[John Hill]

I totally understand the difficulties of trying to create a unique alien being that doesn't too closely resemble common animals. It's a hard thing to do. I would say that the biggest thing you can do is define the mouth shape more. So that it is clear that it is a mouth when both opened and closed. In the closed mouth close ups, it's just not distinguishable. Perhaps look at it in profile, or blacked out in sihlouette. Can you tell the head is a head when the mouth is closed, can you tell it has a mouth when the mouth is closed? Even if it is alien, the head needs to definitely look like a head, in a way that seperates it from the rest of the body. In 2D you could probably do this with color, and detail level, so maybe that is the answer.

I like your ideas for it's locomotion, and I think your idea about the tentacles is good.

It is a very interesting design, and I am not trying to discourage, only help.

[JoeyStone]

I hear you on the mouth issue. I'll spend some more time sketching out new approaches. I really appreciate your input, no discouragement felt!

[olmanic]

this is quite the project. as for the "alieness" of the creature, you haven't pushed it far enough. The problem i foresee is that you have a very recognizable torso with arm shape. what if you changed the shoulder joint and moved it either up and forward or down the body? that might amplify the strangeness of it all.

right now it looks like a naga. look it up and you'll see what I'm talking about.

[krisvahl]

Very nice work. Could easily have been the Cloverfield monster.

My only prob is that the tips of the tentacles look a bit too Dr. Octopus.

[JoeyStone]

olmanic: I see what you mean about the torso being too human. Good suggestion. It makes me think maybe I need to redo the construction of the torso altogether.

krisvahl: Thanks, man. BTW, I gotta say that you're the kind of artist I wish I was! I haven't seen any pictures of the Cloverfield monster yet, seems like it might be a cool movie. I admit, the tentacles are docOck knockoffs, only because I put almost no thought into them yet, hence their non-detailed state. What do you think, maybe suckers of some kind, or re-design the claw? Both? I'll play around and see what comes out.

[krisvahl]

Still keep the tentacle claws but make them more organic to match the rest of his body. At the moment they're a bit too smooth and metallic looking.

[JoeyStone]

Still keep the tentacle claws but make them more organic to match the rest of his body. At the moment they're a bit too smooth and metallic looking.

I see. It's been a challenge trying to figure out a zBrush solution with those tentacles. I tried to make it work before and some funky stuff happened. Do you have any suggestions of where I can find a good tutorial resource for the rigging functions in zBrush? If I'm going to add the detail to the tentacles, I guess the most economical way to go about it would be to make one master tentacle ztool and rig it to repose as many subtools as I may need.

This is actually the first zBrush model I can call finished, so it's all still pretty new to me. Any suggestions for tuts or techniques are GREATLY appreciated.

[creepycrawley]

joey stone - this is an interesting post, because like its been said, its hard to create an alien that isn't reminiscent of anything earthly.

i totally agree with all critique made so far by john and kris. thats good advice.

also i would say this. don't be so obsessed with making it unlike anything on earth because its that familiarity that makes it seem "real" to us.

the trick is to disguise that familiarity so we don't instantly think "oh its got elephant feet" or "ohhhh it looks like a reptile". its a tricky balance of knowing what you can change and what you can't.

a good example is giger's alien. now he would have to go down in my book at making the most "alien" of aliens i have ever seen. the design (and all its variants) is superb.

however, whilst he ditched they eyes, its still has a clear mouth with sharp teeth (two in fact) and whilst it has this amazingly foreign body, made pipes and tubes its body is nontheless the really much often used alien body plan: human torso with bird legs (albeit with a tail added too).

so whilst he made some things really way out there and different, he certainly kept some familiarity, which is what makes it so damn scary and cool.

designing a totally unique alien that is super cool is hard these days. i think quite seriously we are getting to a stage where so many different types have been explored that its hard to break free of other "alien" influences.

but earth has some really weird shit living on it. i wouldn't be afraid to draw inspiration from that. just disguise it well.

[JoeyStone]

earth has some really weird shit living on it. i wouldn't be afraid to draw inspiration from that. just disguise it well.

Thanks for the thoughts, I really appreciate it. That's sort of how I began brainstorming for this guy. I would think things like "moves like a snake," and use concepts from nature to put together the philosophy of the design. I think I'll go back and rework the torso area, like olmanic suggested just to move away from the human influence.

[olmanic]

joey,

first i love tha tyou are open and willing to look at suggestions. top notch.

about the tentivles: i love your description of the shooting out and grabbing hold of things. I would imagine that they would be smooth and oily unliek the carapace it seems to wear. But the claws would be similar to the claws on teh arms. hard, sharp and nasty. and i'd say only one claw per tenticle, but hooked. it has enough of them that it wouldn't take very many to 'capture' its prey.

one more thought. What would happen if the tenticle pack was located elsewhere? perhaps the back? then you could design a whole look and biology for the tubes that they are stored in and the monster would have more range with them.

frankly, you ashould probably design the biology of the tubes anyway...

good luck witht eh 3D programs! also PM PabloD. He's a modeler by trade.

[JoeyStone]

What would happen if the tenticle pack was located elsewhere? perhaps the back? then you could design a whole look and biology for the tubes that they are stored in and the monster would have more range with them.

That's actually something I was considering. The whole business of the tentacles coming out of the butt is just the first thing I came up with. Based on the fantastic feedback I'm getting from everyone, I imagine this guy will go through quite a few changes; which is exactly why I put him up here. This forum is pretty much the only place I can have constructive dialogue about my art, except for my one artist friend and he lives in Kansas where I just moved from a few months ago. So, a big thanks to you and everyone who cares to take the time to look and make suggestions!

PS:

PM PabloD. He's a modeler by trade.

It'd be great to have some conversation with a full time modeler, as that's the career path I'm going after right now. You think it would be okay to just drop him a PM out of the blue?

[Pencil Punk]

I keep thinking it's going to stab my head and eat my brains. My precious precious brains...