Character design is at the core of immersive storytelling, bridging technical artistry with visual identity to create compelling digital personas. Whether developing realistic Metahumans, stylized 3D characters, or game-ready assets, my approach blends high-end sculpting, texturing, and real-time rendering techniques to bring unique characters to life. This section showcases my work in character creation, optimization, and animation pipelines, with a particular focus on high-fidelity digital humans and interactive applications.
Metahuman Character Design
Metahumans offer an unparalleled level of realism and animation fidelity, making them ideal for cinematic storytelling and real-time applications. This section features a collection of Metahuman characters created for the short film Lost Angels, each meticulously crafted using a blend of 3D scanning, procedural modeling, and advanced rigging techniques. The goal was to ensure hyper-realistic facial animation while maintaining optimal performance within Unreal Engine 5.
The Metahuman pipeline for Lost Angels involved a multi-stage process to achieve high realism while ensuring real-time optimization:
1. 3D Scanning & Base Mesh Creation • Each character began with a high-resolution 3D scan sourced from 3D Scan Store.
• Using Headshot 2 in Character Creator 4, the raw scan was converted into a fully riggable 3D character with refined topology and accurate anatomical details.
2. Texture & Material Preparation
• Character textures were generated and optimized within Character Creator 4, ensuring proper UV mapping.
• High-resolution textures were then exported to Unreal Engine 5 for further refinement.
3. Metahuman Customization
• To integrate the custom character into the Metahuman framework, I used Wrap 4D to conform the scan’s topology to match the Metahuman base mesh.
• The morphed mesh was imported into Autodesk Maya, where I employed the Metapipe System to rebuild the character within Epic Games' Metahuman framework.
4. Clothing & Outfit Integration
• Outfits were sourced from Marvelous Designer, prioritizing assets that natively support Unreal Engine’s Chaos Cloth Physics.
• If no suitable Marvelous Designer assets were available, Daz3D or Sketchfab outfits were optimized and rigged in Metapipe before being exported into Unreal Engine 5.
Final Character Assembly & Animation Setup
• The fully rigged and textured character was assembled in Unreal Engine 5, where facial animations were refined using Metahuman Animator for lifelike expressions.
• Additional materials and shaders were applied to ensure realistic skin rendering, making use of Subsurface Scattering (SSS) and high-fidelity normal maps.
LOST ANGELS METAHUMAN CHARACTERS
Eli Seth
A battle-worn drifter and skilled martial artist, Eli Seth arrives in Lost Angels seeking redemption from a violent past. Stoic yet haunted, he is drawn into the city’s brutal underground, where he must confront his inner demons and the corruption around him. His journey is one of descent and transformation—forced to fight not only for survival but for his soul.
Kore
A fierce and street-smart waitress at Big Mama’s Diner, Kore is both a survivor and a guiding light in the darkness of Lost Angels. Her quick wit and unshakable spirit make her a force to be reckoned with, offering Eli a rare connection to something real in a city built on deception. But as the violence around them escalates, she refuses to stand by and watch him lose himself.
Big Mama
The heart and soul of Lost Angels’ underbelly, Big Mama is a former military nurse turned diner owner, offering refuge to the city’s lost souls. Warm yet formidable, she carries the weight of past decisions that still haunt her. A mother figure to many, she is a pillar of strength and wisdom in a world that constantly threatens to break those around her.
Persephone
The enigmatic ruler of Lost Angels’ elite, Persephone is as seductive as she is dangerous. From her floating citadel above the city, she controls everything—and everyone—within her grasp. She sees potential in Eli, attempting to mold him into her champion, but her motives are far from pure. She is the embodiment of temptation, power, and the alluring darkness that threatens to consume him.
Janus
A smooth-talking hustler with a scar splitting his face—and his morals—down the middle. Janus is the ultimate survivor, always playing both sides of the game. Though charming and seemingly loyal, his true intentions remain ever-shifting. Friend, enemy, or something in between, he thrives in the chaos of Lost Angels, knowing exactly how to manipulate the players on the board.
