REKIRA THE SUPER-MONSTER - 35th Anniversary of Planning - and New Art!

 I really wanted to post this yesterday, but I only just overcame a bunch of technical hiccups at the eleventh hour. But I'm nonetheless very excited about this.

 Yesterday was the 35th Anniversary of when I officially began production on what would eventually become my original kaiju story, Rekira the Super-Monster! Originally a Godzilla fanfiction, which I would revise and refine in subsequent years; in 1997, I was encouraged by a dear friend to turn the story into an original work (because - and he put it so much better than most other people did - of the benefits of doing an original story; having creative freedom and owning it personally). I agreed, and after much revisions through the years, I refined it into my ultimate love-letter to Godzilla and other tokusatsu (as well as other aesthetics, like midcentury modern cartoon styles and 1950s/'60s retrofuturism).

Here are two finished pieces related to my project, both modeled on Blender and texted/signed on FireAlpaca.

One is the finished figures of Rekira fighting his first adversary, Cheligon (which you've seen in past posts), from one of my render sessions on January 23rd.

The other is new finished figures of the three main characters of the story: Tatsuo Kongoji, Raitaro Hayama, and Verena Freston. The new V6 figures are lower-poly and easier to shape/texture, with much better rigging poseability, and these are the best ones yet! I finally nailed the cartoon style I was going for.

I've got some more pics on the way, from other modeling sessions. But otherwise, it's hard to believe that 35 years have gone by... Enjoy!

Last CG work of 2025!

 I think I really nailed it this time. :)

 You may have seen them in some test footage I posted recently, but I recently completed updated versions of the main heroes of my original kaiju project, Rekira the Super-Monster! And with them, I did a second version of the reenactment of my last art of 2022 on Blender, and this time, I finally nailed it, for my last CG work of 2025.

 Once again, depicted are the main characters, the Olympus Key Staff (who secretly transform into the superhero team, the Dynamic Heralds), hanging out in a huge studio similar to the Rainbow Room from The Monkees! (It's the same exact one used in the previous version.)

Here's the original 2002 drawing for comparison:

And the first 3D version from 2023, which is not bad, but it's great to see how far I've come in my modeling skills.

 Either way, these deeply touch me. :) 

 I'll still be doing some drawn art by the end of the year, so stay tuned!

Rekira 2025

 I'm about to unveil my latest 3D models of my original kaiju, Rekira! Two variants made with the same model; a dragon variant and a bipedal variant. This is the first time since 2008 that I decided to make a fully bipedal version. These are the best models yet! I'm impressed with both versions. Made in Blender.

 

Rekira: 33rd Anniversary: V3 Beta Unveiled!

 At last, for Rekira's 33rd Anniversary today, you get your first full look at the new V3 Beta model!

Done in Blender and 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.

 

Raitaro & Verena - Olympus Elite Staff Members

 From my original kaiju project, Rekira the Super-Monster, here are the two main human characters, Raitaro Hayama and Verena Freston, in their Olympus Elite Staff uniforms!

Figures done in Blender, collage assembled in FireAlpaca.

 ADDED BONUS (9/16/2022): Here's three versions of the central pic; black & white, faded "retro" color, and normal color versions.

And a pic not seen in this collage; one in black and white, and in normal color.

Remodeled Mysti-Girl and Dengekid!

 I have finished remodeling the Blender CG figures of Mysti-Girl and Dengekid, the superhero forms of Verena Freston and Raitaro Hayama, respectively! They look much better!

The helmets/goggles/masks/accessories are unchanged, but the bodysuits were completely redone, and look much smoother and more to my liking.

Remodeled Raitaro & Verena!

 I just recently finished remodeling my Blender figures of Raitaro Hayama and Verena Freston (two main characters from my original kaiju project, Rekira the Super-Monster), and are both much improved!

Raitaro's entire mouth was remodeled, and the facial expressions are much better, not to mention I redid his entire body from scratch, and it looks much better proportioned.

Verena, on the surface level, doesn't look too dissimilar from her previous model; the head/expressions are the same, but the body was entirely redone from scratch, and is far more refined. You wouldn't know that from the clothes she's wearing (which were slightly tweaked to accommodate the new body)! ;)

Mysti-Girl and Dengekid in CGI!

 Two more characters from Rekira the Super-Monster have been completed! Made with Blender, these character profiles were assmbled on FireAlpaca (the logos were done in Flash).

 Last time, you've seen Raitaro Hayama and Verena Freston. Now, here are their Dynamic Heralds superhero forms!

Here's Verena as Herald 3/Mysti-Girl:

 And Raitaro as Herald 6/Dengekid: