Axel Thesleff "Insight" Animation (2023)

Project Overview

I created an animated version of the dream sequences for Axel Thesleff's "Insight" music video. Originally, I co-wrote the full concept for the music video and was involved in the production of the official video. Later, we decided to split the project into two separate versions, each directed by a different person.

Responsibilities

• Co-wrote the original concept for the music video with Axel Thesleff.
• Managed casting for choreographer and dancer Lydia Touliatou.
• Collaborated with Metropolia Polytechnic XR-studio to capture choreography using motion capture technology.
• Led all Unreal Engine tasks, including environment building, lighting, particle effects, atmospheric effects, camera work, and rendering.

Technologies

• Unreal Engine v5
• Optitrack Motion Capture
• Maya: Used to transform motion capture data for use in Unreal Engine.

Unreal Development in Detail

The creation of the animated dream sequences was a hands-on process, where I built and customized the environment piece by piece. Although I used several pre-existing asset packages as a foundation, much of the final environment was crafted manually, blending elements from multiple sources and adding custom touches at every stage.

• I constructed many of the environments piece by piece, often laying assets like plants, rocks and other elements individually to create a unique and surrealistic world.
• For example, I combined plants from three different asset packages, placing each one by hand to achieve a cohesive and dreamlike atmosphere.
• I worked with a variety of Unreal Engine assets but extensively modified them, including:
  • Reworking Niagara particle systems to fit the aesthetic and mood.
  • Employing unconventional lighting rigs and custom atmospheric effects to enhance the sense of immersion.
• The pre-built packages served as a starting point, but I dramatically transformed them through layering, manual placement, and detailed customizations, effectively building much of the environment from the ground up.

This approach allowed me to maintain control over every detail of the scene, creating an intricate, immersive world that aligned perfectly with the project’s artistic vision.

Conceptual thinking

Below is short excerpt from my original concept

The dream state reveals a surreal mental landscape that blends wild imagination and subconsciousness. This fantastical realm intertwines memories, locations, and expressions that transcend logic. Here, the dancer's portrayal fuses with vibrant animations, generating fluid and expressive forms that interact with the virtual environment.