#autyear1

[myreencastro]

Key-frame Animation, Motion Capture Pre-Visualisation AUT DIGD503/506 Assignments

A compilation of Myreen’s 3D Animated Shorts in 2017. Project Roles: Animator, Motion Capture Group Director

[myreencastro]

‘Ghost Files’ Storyboard, Concept Art to Final Shot

[myreencastro]

30-Second Trailer of an Invented Film AUT DIGD502 Visual Effects Assignment

Based on the first episode of a beloved 90s anime, Yu Yu Hakusho (Ghost Files). Directed and produced by Myreen Castro.

Special Thanks  Julia Jovanovic as the Ghost  Emiri Matsumoto as Death  Stephane Meynaert as the Driver  Neal Castro as the Little Boy  Iris Du as part of the crowd (and makeup artist)  Rumbie Kaitano as part of the crowd

[myreencastro]

AR-based, Themed Spectacle AUT DIGD502 Augmented Reality Group Assignment

A short documentary of yet another group collaboration, called ‘AUTerror’, showcasing the Augmented Reality experience. Project Roles: Video Editor / Concept Artist / 3D Modeller / Animator

In collaboration with  Reuben Shortland, Project Manager / Technician / 3D Zombie Designer  Dasha Krasnoselskaya, Concept Artist / 3D Balloon Girl Designer

Reflective Statement

“For one of Studio II’s papers, we are required to craft an augmented reality-based spectacle at a specific location, with a theme of our choice, purely for entertainment purposes.

In Week 1 I formed a group with Reuben Shortland and Dasha Krasnoselskaya, and together we decided to centralise our ideas on a Spooky AUT visual just for the sake of the upcoming Halloween, and calling ourselves AUTerror.

I personally loved the fact that the project was experimental, granting us the freedom to express our common interests creatively, in this case our love for the horror genre. In retrospect, past assignment criteria up until this point require us to be practical, which in turn limits and suppresses some creative juices from flowing. This straightforward brief, however, allows for our imaginations to run wild from ideation through to the development stage and as a result, I, along with everyone else in my group, was in charge of asset creation. The idea I came up with was of an interactive floating hand directing the stakeholder’s eye, as I took the role of its 3D Modeller, Texture Artist and Animator.

The design process isn’t something I haven’t done on past assessments, so I was able to go through production quite quickly, using multiple references and tutorials to ensure the best results. Despite this, I can’t say the model wasn’t a complicated one to get done; with it I was able to not just contribute to the assessment but also improve on my skills and learn to be more efficient in terms of rigging, animating and exporting.

My past experience with 3D led me to finishing my asset earlier on for Reuben, our group’s Unity technician, to put together. I then volunteered to be our group’s Video Editor and managed to take some B-rolls around campus with our prototype, which was probably the most rewarding part of the project for me—seeing my model come to life in AR form.

To conclude, I found this Augmented Reality experience and study to be an enjoyable and satisfying ride looking at how beneficial it’s been both from an individual perspective and as a group, and I can say I’m no less interested in learning more about the particular field as I was entering this part of the course not knowing what to expect.”

[myreencastro]

Posthumus: Animation Show Reels

In conjunction with Auckland Live, AUT (Digital Design) Year 1's Game Design project in semester two has a Shakespeare twist, giving us the opportunity to showcase our masterpieces at Aotea Centre on the 7th of October 2017. After being placed in a group with three other talented people, ‘Cymbeline: King of Britain‘ is the Shakespeare play we decided to base our 3D game on. My role particularly focuses on the character designs of game hero, the human Posthumus, and the Android villains, as presented above.

Video Content Courtesy of Myreen C. Further information about the technical processes that went through with this 3D Character Design (from Modelling, and Rigging all the way to Animating and Exporting) can be found here.

[myreencastro]

Shakespeare in Video Game Format, Year 1 Project AUT DIGD502 Game Design Group Assignment

‘Posthumus: A Tale from Cymbeline’ is an isometric puzzle adventure game inspired by the Shakespearean play, Cymbeline: King of Britain. In the aftermath of a rebellion, the human Posthumus is held captive in the triumphant Androids’ prison. Visited by God Jupiter, he finds out that his wife is still alive, enough to make him plot his escape.

Out NOW - available to play and download on PC.

Project Roles: Character Designer / Modeller / Animator

In collaboration with  Connor Brown, Concept Artist / Level Designer  Billy Heyward, Programmer  Joon Hee Lee, Sound Designer / Cut Scene Artist

Early Reviews

“Posthumus: This is a top adventure game, with great concept art, environment, and character design. The style, idea, and concept are excellent! A great introduction to the story, tutorial, clear understanding what the player can and can not do. This is a well-developed game, with good controls, puzzles - a good challenges as the player gets better, so good progression and reward in playing - successful game play and a lot of fun too. This is a proper and good game. JOB very very well done! I love the style, clean and bright. It was filled with great game play, progression, objectives, and mechanics. It looks stunning! Really impressive!” (Britta Pollmuller, AUT, 2017)

(Have a read of the design process, or watch Myreen’s character animation reels of Posthumus!)

[myreencastro]

Full Body Character Walk AUT DIGD502 3D Animation Assessment

A short 3D animation of a full body character walk, expressing the emotion of confidence. Created via Autodesk Maya 2017. Inspired by Peter Parker's emo dance in Spider-Man 3.

[myreencastro]

2D Platformer, Survival, Hero’s Journey AUT DIGD501 Game Design Assignment

Imagine waking up to find that the world you've come to know exists in a chalkboard. Stay on the planks, collect as many orbs as you can, find a rainbow portal, and lastly, don't get erased.

"Curio City" out NOW - available to play and download on PC.

Early Reviews

"Curio City - I believe, is a hit. Graphics are not only the old-school blackboard but even colour-free – very “first generation Game Boy”. Awesome! As platform games go, it’s extremely typical; run, jump, collect, complete levels. But while it sounds easy, it’s as tough as old boots to complete. Addictive, challenging and fun, it’s an ideal starting point for retro gaming!" (Britta Pollmuler, AUT, 2017)

Game Music Composed and Remixed by Myreen C. via Beepbox.co (Have a read of how it’s made)