L.A. Underwater is NHMLA multimedia-rich, immersive exhibition open in May 2022. There are 40 fossils that are uncovering the secrets of our submerged prehistory. Many of these fossils were found by everyday Angelenos–from construction workers unearthing over 2,000 fish fossils while working on the Metro line to Museum neighbors discovering a whale skull while digging an irrigation ditch in Lincoln Heights.
I was contracted as a 3D artist and designer to complete an 8-minute animated short video that is projected onto over 30-foot long gallery walls. Working very closely with a team of paleontologists, and paleo-artist, I modeled, textured, rigged, and animated over 10 different specimens for the exhibition. I also designed and animated on-screen UI and motion graphic elements, and collaborated with the exhibition designer to determine the best experience for viewers.
L.A. Underwater - The Prehistoric Sea Beneath Us
Client :
Natural History Museum Los Angeles
Tools :
Maya, Zbrush, 3D Coat, Substance Painter, Marmoset Toolbag, After Effects
Contributions :
—Worked with designers and paleontologists to create 3D animated short for special immersive exhibition L.A. Underwater: The Prehistoric Sea Beneath Us
—Created animatic and previs mock-ups from provided scripts
—Collaborated with paleo-artist to retopologize highpoly sculpted 3D models of various specimens and create lowpoly version with scientific accuracy
—Optimized models for rigging, rigged and animated all characters
—Determined best pipeline with AV team for large-scale 3D projection mapping
—Created 3D environment and set up CG camera and scene lighting
—CG rendered, composited, and implemented VFX in post-production
—Coordinated with the art director to design and animate motion graphics elements
Press Article :
copyright Two Bit Circus