Potential Area of interest:
“Exploring Science-fiction world building through
Mechanical and Robotic design. “
For my COP3 dissertation, I really want
explore, in-depth, my core area of interest within the field of concept design
and illustration, that is sci-fi mechanical and robotic designs. Having grown
up watching series like Power rangers and Gundam, these subjects have always
been absolutely fascinating to me. But as I grew older and begin to watch news
sci-fi series like Star Wars, Evangalion and Ghost in the Shell and playing
video games series Metal gear solid and Horizon Zero Dawn, it became an area of
design that I want to see myself practicing and mastering in the future.
Therefore, this topic for dissertation then will not only be interesting to
discuss but will have major benefits not only for my theoretical knowledge but
my practical skill as well.. With that said, even though I absolutely adore the
highly-stylize and biological look of Japanese mecha design, I also wants to
explore works from great western series as well, which I find sometimes have a
better world building consideration behind it. The way I would approach this
task then, is first to build a base of understanding in the forms of a brief
research into the history of the sci-fi genre and the narratives it discuss, as
narrative will then drive the design element. Then I’ll begin to look in the
works of different notable artists and series (around 3-4 ) , analyzing the
critical decisions that was made behind the design and its role within each
narrative. Finally , I would attempt to connect the similarities and
differences of each designs to one another, and then compare to the field of
contemporary robotic design in real life, as to see how much our perception of
“futuristic” has evolved overtime and how future events and invention will
change it even more. For my practical then , it will be serves alongside my
theoretical work as supporting image, including my own take in designs for each
of the universe discuss and that of my own, as a mean for me to learn and
develop my design skill as well as technical drawing abilities
Research sources :
Books:
- Chiang D (2008) Mechanika : Creating the Art of science
fiction with Doug Chiang , F&W
Publications Inc.
- Le Blanc M. , Odell C. (2014) Akira ,
Palgrave Macmillian
- Hanson M. (2005) Building Sci-fi
Moviescapes : The Science behind the fiction, Gulf Professional publishing.
- Holland S. (2009) Sci-fi art : A graphic
history, Harper Collins
- Unno H. (2018) The art of fantasty,
Sci-fi and Steampunk, Pie International company Limited
- Cohen D, Taylor R. (2017) The art of
Ghost in the Shell , Titan Books
- Roberts A (2016) The History of Science
Fiction , Springer.
- Bolton C., Ronay C I Jr, Tatsumi T.
(2007) Robot Ghosts and Wired Dreams : Japanese Science fiction from origins to
anime, University of Minnesota press
- Szostak (2017) The Art of Star Wars : The
Last Jedi, Harry N. Abrams
- Davies P (2017) The Art of Horizon Zero Dawn,
Titan books.
- Zamprioli L (2012) Abakan 2288 –
Kallamity’s World of Mecha Design
Websites :
Forbes – For interviews
Artstation – Art display websites
CG world – Magazine
Sci-fi-o-rama – Sci fi art website
Sydmead.com – futuristic visual artist
Artist :
Doug Chiang – Starwars
Ralp McQuarrie – Starwars
John Berkey
Yoji Shinkawa – Metal Gear
Kuino Okawara – Gundam
Brian Sum
Makoto Kobayashi – Dragon’s heaven
Masamune Shirow/Masanori Ota – Ghost in the
shell
Lloyd Allen -
Syd Mead –
Joe Johnston –
Quotes:
“ If there are cars
and airplanes, looking at them I try and think what kind of unique aspect can I
bring to that. As I am designing a mecha, making them look more like living
things, something inorganic given an organic aspect, then that would be
unique”.
Makoto Kobayashi –
Dragon’s heaven
“I think a lot of my ideas just float up
from my subconscious mind like a bubble from the bottom of the lake. George
wanted Tatooine to be a desert planet, with twin suns and all these factors, so
I was think, ‘Desert…extreme heat….no plants…just rocks and dust,’ and all the
business of Tatooine just came up in my mind”
Ralph McQuarrie – Star Wars
“If we look at movies of the past , the future appeared further away. In the 21st century, the future accelerates toward us at a dizzying pace”
“The world created by science fiction cinema –whether full blown fantasy or fiction a few degrees separated from the facts of the real world – have always been more about the present than the future they purport to predict.
Matt Handson- Building Sci-fi Moviescape
“As technology advances, the reality we can show is getting more precise. When illustrating the question I always ask in my mind is ‘What is reality?’ That is the foundation of any piece of art I create.”
Yoji Shinkawa – Metal Gear
"Today's audiences are too visually savvy. This makes my job very challenging. Designing the spaceships for Star Wars Episode I and II for instance, was very demanding even though the end results may make it seem easy. Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most difficult to find. The X wings by Joe Johnston is a perfect example. Its seems so simple and obvious in hindsight but it was incredibly bold in execution and strong in design. Since then, the X-wing influences have become ubiquitous in science fiction spaceship."
Doug Chiang - Star Wars
"Today's audiences are too visually savvy. This makes my job very challenging. Designing the spaceships for Star Wars Episode I and II for instance, was very demanding even though the end results may make it seem easy. Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most difficult to find. The X wings by Joe Johnston is a perfect example. Its seems so simple and obvious in hindsight but it was incredibly bold in execution and strong in design. Since then, the X-wing influences have become ubiquitous in science fiction spaceship."
Doug Chiang - Star Wars
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