Burts Bees | Holiday Miniature
Burts Bees | Holiday Miniature
Brief
For this project, the objective was to bring the concept of Big gifts coming from little packages to life. We developed 3D miniature scenes where Burt's Bees products appeared as oversized gifts, surrounded by carefully crafted, small-scale environments. This approach emphasized the idea that even small packages can deliver big surprises, perfectly capturing the festive spirit of the holiday season.
We will highlight the process from initial 2D concepting — created by the amazing Aspenn Richards — through to 3D development, which was executed by me. This breakdown will showcase the journey from concept to final delivery, offering insights into the techniques and creative decisions that shaped the final scenes.
Concepting
In this initial phase, the client collaborated with illustrators to curate the core ideas and establish a clear vision for how the scenes should be executed in 3D. These discussions resulted in detailed 2D references and style frames that served as visual guides for the project. By analyzing these materials, I gained a comprehensive understanding of the desired composition, scale, and overall aesthetic. This stage is critical, as it lays the groundwork for the 3D development and ensures alignment with the project's creative direction.
*This stage, while not executed by me, involved close collaboration with the client and illustrators to establish the core concepts and vision for the project.
3D Modelling
In this phase, I utilized the turn sheets provided by the illustrator for specific objects to accurately construct them in 3D space using Blender and Cinema 4D. Once the models were completed, I applied textures and materials, ensuring they adhered to the established visual style. The final step involved rendering the scenes using Redshift, achieving the desired level of detail and realism.
Simulation Breakdown
This project incorporated a diverse range of simulations to enhance the overall atmosphere and align with the desired creative direction. Cloth dynamics were used for elements such as the wrapping paper and flags, while particle simulations were employed to create realistic snowfall. Rigid body dynamics and Voronoi fractures were utilized for snowball interactions and collisions, and additional simulations were applied to generate the sled trails, further adding depth and realism to the scenes.
Character Breakdown
During this phase, I utilized a motion capture application called MoveAI, which captures video data and converts it into motion capture data. I then applied this data to the pre-rigged characters, refining the animation to achieve the desired look. This process required significant innovation and problem-solving to ensure the final animations were both fluid and aligned with the creative direction.
Digital Banners
Additional scenes were created for static display banners, designed to showcase the products without animation, as shown below.
Final Deliverables
In this phase, we finalized the deliverables, incorporating text animation and sound design to enhance the overall presentation. We also demonstrated how the elements were adapted and resized for various mediums, ensuring consistency and visual impact across different platforms.
