The Traveler
Animatronic build for a short film project. The assignment was to build an animatronic using multiple servos that would bring life to a character. We also had to shoot a short film with the animatronic.
Design and Build Photos
My goal was to design and build an animatronic head that would be a puppet head. I would be dressed in the character's costume and on one hand would be the head and my arm would act as the neck. I started with sketches of the traveler character and sculpted a shell in Zbrush.
The head shell sculpt was 3D printed. I used an experimental printing mode which was fast and I attempted to use the least amount of material as possible. Due to these factors, the top of the head shell did not print as perfect as planned. Since I had planned to figure finish the head shell, I decided to repair the top by starting the finishing process instead of reprinting. I attached some foam with hot glue and sculpted the foam to get the ridges I wanted. I then covered the foam with a cloth material that already had a texture like wrinkled skin. I coated the cloth with crystal gel and blended the edges into the shell.
3D printed and painted eyes and eye mechs.
Working out eye placement in head shell.
Crafting a leather hand strap for puppeteering head.
Sculpting a mold for facial features to be casted in latex.
Attaching latex parts to head shell.
Wiring and programming Arduino controls for eye mech.
I had an old WWII aviators headpiece from another project that I decided to use as head dressing for the traveler.
Pattered a pleated expansion piece to make it fit myself and the animatronic head. I also patterned a neck covering from fur materials.
Crafting alien arms and hands. I needed 2 that I could wear for close up action shots and one fake arm for when I would be controlling the head.
Final tests of completed head. Adding programming for the eye movements to correspond to scripted activities that would be filmed.
Constructed a rig to hold animatronic head for close up activity shots. Also constructed a dolly for tracking shots.
Clips from film.
Additional props for film.
Build photos for props