Father
Animation, Art Direction and Storytelling
Father is a recurring figure in the Pokeytummy and MMCD Studio storytelling universe—a character first introduced in an earlier experimental short as a quiet, imposing presence whose role was left deliberately ambiguous. In that early incarnation, he appeared as a solitary, towering figure, part protector and part enigma, navigating a fractured, dreamlike landscape. His design drew on industrial motifs softened by subtle anthropomorphic cues—broad, armour-like shoulders, a faceplate suggesting both mask and monument, and a silhouette that evoked permanence and weight.
In this new production test for the upcoming animated feature, Father is reimagined with greater emotional depth and a richer visual language. The aim is to capture not only his scale and physicality but also the layered sense of memory, age, and burden that defines his character.
Production Process
The visual world began as a set of key art pieces created in 2022, which laid the foundation for the planet’s mood and tone — a mix of hostile beauty and uneasy calm. From there, I designed and animated the robotic avatars in Cinema 4D, using Octane Render to bring out metallic textures, subtle weathering, and cinematic lighting. Environmental assets were crafted to evoke scale and depth, with layered atmospheric effects that immerse the viewer in a sense of distance and danger.
The animation’s pacing and camera work were built to mirror the characters’ disorientation — slow, deliberate reveals that let the environment loom over them before quick bursts of motion when danger strikes. Every element, from the robots’ design language to the color grading, was developed to serve both the narrative stakes and the storytelling style I aim to bring to future projects.