Poké Tree Modeling & Peach’s Castle Animation

Overview

For my midterm and final projects in my Computer Aided Design course at Tufts University, we were tasked to bring in as much creativity as possible to our projects. For the midterm, we were tasked with 3D modeling any kind of lamp, and for the the final project we were to create an animation implementing 3D modeling and set design.

For these projects, I decided to bring in my passion for Nintendo video games that I have loved since I was young. My midterm lamp developed into a Pokémon inspired lamp called “The Poké Tree”, and I recreated Peach’s Castle from Super Mario 64 as my final animation.

Roles:

  • 3D Model Designer

  • Animator

Time:

  • 8 Weeks

Methods:

  • 3D Modeling

  • Set Design

  • Animation

Tools:

  • AutoCAD

  • Inventor

  • 3DS Max

The Poké Tree

As an avid Pokémon player, I was inspired to create a lamp that features a tool commonly used in the game series: The Poké Ball. For this lamp, modeled in AutoCAD and Inventor, there would be three levels each with different types of Poké Balls, and the top level would would be an open ball that represents the most important type of ball: The Master Ball.

Additionally, the master ball is designed as 3 inches to be a bigger ball while the rest of the balls are designed at 2 inches.

See below for pictures of the Poké Tree, and click here to see all the dimensions.

Peach’s Castle

In addition to my love for Pokémon, I have always loved Super Mario games and wanted to bring the passion into in animation project.

To develop this animation, I modeled pieces of the castle in AutoCAD and Inventor before bringing them over to 3DS Max to piece them together and place materials on them to represent the castle. I then created the animation to bring the camera, doors, and coins to life just like they are in the game. Additionally, I added the same music present in the game to add another layer of immersion as if you are playing it.

See below for the animation.

Summary

These projects allowed me to bring in my love for Nintendo video games in an academic setting that challenged me to think differently about design and animation.

By completing these projects, not only was I able to experience incredible nostalgia, but I was able to expand my understanding of what can be created in these softwares and how I can bring in my outside experiences.

I hope you enjoyed learning about my Poké Tree and Peach’s Castle projects. If you would like to hear more about this project, please do not hesitate to reach out to me!