O FOR OUROBOROS
CONCEPT
Initially, the plan was to create an interactive app for children inspired by "Metamorphabet". However, delving deeper into personal beliefs led to the decision to incorporate the OUROBOROS SYMBOL instead. This symbol holds profound meaning beyond its association with a snake, representing the unity of all physical and spiritual entities through an eternal cycle of destruction and re-creation.
STORY
Growing up, my family practised a mix of Agnostic, Taoist, and Feng Shui beliefs, emphasizing the importance of balancing physical space, airflow, and spiritual energy. I've always been intrigued by the balanced structure of the letter "O", the number 0, and the number 8, but I understand that the significance of these symbols varies across cultures. For this reason, I chose the letter "O" as it is a vowel and more universal across languages.
MOODBOARDS INSPIRATIONS STORYBOARDS
Visual Reference
Across various cultures, there are different interpretations of the Ouroboros symbol. Through my research, I have come to understand that despite our linguistic differences, we share a common understanding of eternity and the cyclical nature of the universe.
Texture Reference
I was thinking of creating a unique texture that would represent a space snake. Snakes have adapt to different environments, lifestyles, and ecosystems, so I envision a snake that is partially part of the galaxy itself.
Lighting References
I want to create a powerful illuminating space light that can produce dual lighting effects, representing the duality of both worlds. With this lighting, I aim to create a blend between the snake and the galaxy, similar to how clouds can render the sky in multiple colors.
Storyboard Sketches
I wanted to show the textures of the snakes made from Galactic materials before revealing the full snake devouring itself to expose the space portal.
PRODUCTION PROCESS
After finishing the storyboard, I started developing and transforming the original contents along with the inspirations into a fresh vision.
Creating Snake Parts
I designed a custom snake scale inspired by desert sand vipers. The scale is rough, sharp, and elegant with multiple curves to deflect sandstorms.
Creating the Galaxy
I created the Galaxy by cloning a few types of VDB Clouds volumetric matter. To achieve the desired lighting effect, I had to add a few orbs to simulate the way light appears in space. I used Redshift to render each scene, which took approximately 1 to 3 hours to complete.
Staging the Scenes
I created presets for lighting setups. This speeds up finding the perfect lighting and efficiently being able to apply it to multiple scenes.
Rendering
I adjusted the focal length of the camera in Cinema4D and used a quick render to fine-tune the bokeh effect. Once I was satisfied with the result, I used multiple compositing layers in Photoshop to further enhance the effects.
Compositing
The remaining color correction, compositing, and transitions are executed in After Effects. This includes adding backgrounds, camera dust, and light flares.