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Wasp “Hero” Rig for 2024 short film “The Wasp” (VFX asset) | Modelled, Textured, Rigged by Brian Mahler (Midomaru)

I was approached to create this character as a VFX hero asset for a short film titled “The Wasp” Dir. Pedro Guzman. The character was modelled after an Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa Mandarinia), while misleadingly not being a wasp, the director picked it and provided a taxidermy model for both the modeling reference and the VFX stand in shots — which I also supervised on set. 

Back View
Front View
3/4 View
Top View

The rig was designed with quick shot output in mind. As this was a student film, there were tight limits on time with only two weeks in between the initial hand-out of the VFX plates and pre-colorgraded turn-in.

A demo of “Wasp” in action, demonstrating IK antennae and tail, action-driven grouped leg controls (aka “the landing gear”), and wing cycle controller.
An idle flight cycle
In-software previs of the intro shot of “Wasp”

Software(s) used: Blender