Farewell to 2023

 In this fairly quick sketch, my last work for 2023, Rekira the Super-Monster joins Shin Ultraman, Shin Kamen Rider, and an uncharacteristically friendly Minus One Godzilla in bidding farewell to a remarkable year for tokusatsu in America!

Done on tablet in FireAlpaca.

 

 

Last CG work of 2023!

 I'll be taking a break from CG work for the rest of the year, so it's fitting that I would post this superb CG recreation of my "Final Art of 2022" drawing! Once it was finished, I got a bit emotional seeing the result (and the original drawing was emotional enough as it was). A Christmas present for all. Done on Blender on the 15th, and assembled in FireAlpaca today.

And here's the original:

The Dynamic Heralds in CGI!

 At last, after two years, I finally got all of the Dynamic Heralds translated into 3DCG!

The Dynamic Heralds is the superhero team featured in my original kaiju project, Rekira the Super-Monster; they are the (super)human protagonists of the story, investigating the strange phenomenon of giant monsters suddenly appearing in New York. Transformed into "die-cast" superhumans by the super-computer HERA (Hydro-Electric Re-Atomizer), The Dynamic Heralds are secretly based/reside in Olympus Tower on the small artificial island Olympus Island, located in the Hudson River in New York. As the Olympus Elite Staff, our heroes are excellent technological engineers for the privately-run Olympus Industries, Ltd. As the Dynamic Heralds, a mysterious team of vigilante superheroes, they fight crime and corruption, and keep peace in the New York area.

One to two years in the making, after several tries, all were modeled in Blender, with the textures in FireAlpaca. The bases for the Dynamic Heralds designs are based on these designs from 2021. There have been little changes in translation of design! The Olympus Elite Staff suits are based on these designs from 2022.

Helmet Type:

Mask Type:

Unmasked:

Civvies:

Olympus Elite Staff:

Introducing Rekira V3!

 At last, I unveil my latest CG model of my original kaiju, Rekira! Here is Version 3 (V3), which is the best-looking version to date.

Done on Blender, with the skin/fur texture done on tablet in both Blender and Fire Alpaca. The skin/fur ratio was first attempted on the V1 model, but the result was unsatisfactory. Now, it looks far better, now that I got the hang of using particle fur both conservatively and efficiently for the model! The topology is also much better and more consistent. I also simplified Rekira's antlers (I eschewed the red lines), and the headlamp and Pulsar Plates are also now incorporated into the model itself (as opposed to just pasted on, like the previous two models).

Completion test shots (using stock HDRI sky textures), from when the model was finished on October 12 (when I finally completed the glow features).

WIP test shots

This one is great, the best feral expression, so far.

Glow test:

Emulating the "strong" pose of the 1968-1972 Godzilla:

Shee!

Rekira V2 Test Pictures from 2021!

 Before I post the latest development for Rekira the Super-Monster, enjoy these test pictures for the previous Rekira V2 (Rekira 2021) figure! All rendered on Blender in mid-to-late August 2021, after finishing the figure.

 

Ray effect was hand-drawn on tablet in FireAlpaca.

 

Happy Belated Thanksgiving 2023!

 Due to health issues and other unfortunate technical difficulties in the past few days, I'm extremely late in posting this cute Thanksgiving card I whipped out this past Wednesday evening, so I humbly apologize. :(

Done on tablet in FireAlpaca, here's a head portrait lineup of the Olympus Elite Staff (the Dynamic Heralds) from Rekira the Super-Monster for their staff Thanksgiving greeting card! Oh, it would've been such a great fit right before Thursday...

Dengekid into Dengeking

 The main (super)human protagonist of Rekira the Super-Monster, Herald 6/Dengekid, demonstrating his power to transform into his giant form, Dengeking!

Started on September 15th, finished today (October 26), done on tablet in FireAlpaca.

Some recent Verena art

From Rekira the Super-Monster, here's a new mod-style cartoon doodle I did of Verena! The new CG model on Blender looks very close to this. Drawn on May 26 on tablet in FireAlpaca.

 

Another, done on the same date.

 

Happy 50th Anniversary to GODZILLA VS. MEGALON!

 Today has been the 50th Anniversary of my personal favorite Godzilla movie, Godzilla Vs. Megalon (Toho; 1973)! Not only one of the earliest Godzilla movies I ever saw, but also the first movie I was ever taken to see in the cinema, at the now-defunct Loew's Spooner Theater in the Bronx.

Here is my tribute drawing to said film.

Recreating one of the famous publicity photos from the film, here are (left to right): Rekira, Dengeking, Jet Jaguar, and Godzilla. The first two are original creations of mine, with inspiration drawn from the latter two. :)

Done today on tablet in FireAlpaca. Shared in full size!

And Awaaaay We Go! (Rekira's Jackie Gleason Tribute)

 Here's Rekira in a gag pose I've always wanted to draw him in! Here is my tribute to one of my favorite actors, Jackie Gleason, based on his iconic "And awaaaay we go!" pose.

Drawn on tablet in FireAlpaca.

First Art of 2023!

 Happy New Year, everyone! Here's my first artwork of 2023!

I had wanted to do this for New Year's Day yesterday, but was busy with family at the time, but better to be just one night late than never (or any later)!

Here's the stars of Rekira the Super-Monster, the eponymous monster Rekira (right) shaking hands with the superhero Dengekid (a member of the superhero team, the Dynamic Heralds)! This year is the upcoming 50th Anniversary of my personal favorite Godzilla movie, and one of my favorite movies of all time, Godzilla Vs. Megalon (Toho; 1973), so this New Year's Day drawing is my tribute to that film with my characters.

Done on tablet in FireAlpaca.