EMMA GAALA 2023
Animation for ETTA and Pihlaja performance
Emma Gaala is an annual award ceremony celebrating the most distinguished and outstanding professionals in the Finnish music industry, organised by IFPI Finland.
The scope of this project entailed creating several animated background visuals for the ETTA and Pihlaja performance sets taking place in 2023's Gaala. All rigging, animation and material work was done in Cinema 4D, with some elements necessitating the use of dynamic fire particle simulation with X-Particles. Final renders were prepared with Redshift.
Role:
Motion design, Animation, Physics simulation
Client:
Credits:
Art direction: Ari Levelä
Video: Ruutu
Performance video
Project Breakdown
The most complex element of this project was undoubtedly the dynamic fire simulation led by the movement of an animated model - a phoenix in flight. Utilising the X-Particles system, the surface of the mesh was used as an emitter for the bulk of the fire simulation, ensuring that the effect perfectly captures the silouette and motion of the model down to each individual wing feather. Additional particles were utilised to create a sense of depth and variance.
While initially this animation included the surface mesh of the bird as well, it was eventually decided that it looks more striking when the fire effect is given center stage on its own, providing a more ephemereal effect. An experimental version of the phoenix made during the look and feel exploration stage of the project can be found on the RND page.
Female empowerment in the face of a bad breakup symbolised by a storm of stilettos, pike-encrusted lips and the intimidating sharp nail on a middle finger flipping off the audience. Creating the motion of these elements required a mix of object particle simulation, rigging, as well as displacement on a high poly mesh.