Fred | Character 3d modeling and animation

CHALLENGE: Complete the homework for the 3D Artist course. The goal was to create an animated character from scratch using ZBrush and Cinema 4D.

SOLUTION: I decided to create a cartoon-stylized Freddie Mercury, a character I’ve been passionate about since childhood. This project was particularly challenging as it was my first experience in 3D character modeling, rigging, and animation all at once. I began with references, drawing inspiration not only from real photos but also from Pixar movies and AI-generated images. These helped me develop a suitable sketch.

Next, I jumped into ZBrush to sculpt the model. Since sculpting produces a high-poly model that isn’t ideal for animation, I exported it to Blender (my favorite tool) for retopology and UV mapping. I then created textures in Substance 3D Painter. Finally, it was time for Cinema 4D, where I worked on the hair, rigging, scene assembly, lighting, and animation. For the animation, I used the Live Aid concert recording where Freddie Mercury performed his iconic “eh-oh” chant, reproducing all the movements frame by frame. I rendered the animation in Cinema 4D and added the original soundtrack in Kdenlive (my favorite open-source video editor).

RESULT: I gained a lot of experience, created another piece of work to share, and received the highest grade for the homework at course.

Sculpting in ZBrush

Retopology and UV-Mapping in Blender and Texturing in Substance 3D Painter

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Final renders of the textured and rigged 3d model

Animation preview

Voice acting

Thanks for watching my portfolio. Please drop me a message if you need an efficient specialist for caracter 3d modeling and animation, let us discuss your project in detail.