Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Robot Architecture

These series I did for the Movie ROBOTS some years ago.
In retrospect I know now that this movie was more fun to research and design for, than it was to watch.
We spend a long time developing the world that these robots lived in. We looked at the history of everything "machine", from the advent of the industrial revolution which brought about the machine age, to today's computer manufactured machines (machines that build machines). What this meant is that we had to be faithful to the materials and technology of each of these eras. Ultimately we divided the world into 4 mayor periods:
STEAM, COMBUSTION, ELECTRIC and HI-END.
Architecturally, it echoed human architecture, at least in how we view them emotionally. It most certainly aimed to express a nostalgia for American cultural history. Contrasting the romanticism of early American culture and the skepticism of today. The Star of the film had to remind us of all that we loved about the past in a way that could also inspire the future. Someone of traditional values with present ambitions.
The world around him needed to support all this as well. Ultimately, I think the story failed to support the star of the film and the robot world. I can only speak for that which I was called to do, and say simply that it came down to the budget , the pacing of the film and the studio's lack of faith for the original story.
80% of the architectural potential never could be realized in 3D within budget and the accelerated pace of the film prevented it from taking its time to accurately portray the contrast between the more nostalgic world that the star of the film came from and the precipitous bustle of the world that he came to inhabit. Ultimately all machines worked equally as fast, or not at all. Like all the steam and moving mechanisms we wanted for the depths of the city. Originally intended to look, feel and work like an old watch. Sadly, since only 20% of the architecture was ultimately built, there was only so much we could hope for.
Lack of Budget, lack of resources... Our mistake was designing a movie that was clearly well out of budget.
images © 2005 20th century fox film

Small town Steam era (Above). Pencil/digital.

Big city Steam era (Above left) and Hi-End (Above right). Pencil/digital.

Big city Steam era (Above). Villain's Lair. Pencil/digital.

Big city Electric & High-End (Above). Pencil/digital.
Because the robot city was intended to have been built from the ground up, this presented us with the opportunity to build the next modern era above the previous one. Thus, allowing us to echo the kind of eclectic architecture prevalent in Europe today. Modern structures built directly upon gothic bases, for example. The difference was that we would continue to build vertically so that the Hi-End structures reached into the sky while the ancient steam powered architecture rusted away at the core. But again, since only 20% of the architecture could be built in 3D, most of these concepts became blurred.
Those few buildings that did get built in full detail however, are testament to what "could have been". The folks at that studio are of such great talent, it is a shame that they were not better supported by some of the leadership, to accomplish the goals that the artists faithfully set off to achieve.

26 comments:

Saigonradio said...

Dude take it easy. These are fabulous.

David Malan said...

Wonderful work. Too bad it wasn't fully realised, at least they had plenty of great concept to pick from. As a 3d builder myself I would love to work from such great work.

Joe said...

This looks like it was a blast to do. Amazing stuff.

Gerald Guerlais said...

Posting thoses amazing designs is a very good idea, so audience can aware (I hope)how hardly you worked. I already was a big fan of the "art of robots" but you feed us with such a bonus ! Thanks for sharing. Excellent job, you can be proud !

Anonymous said...

Awesome, Really Awesome O_O, the Rachet`s Mom Factory was my favourite place in the movie, the textures , the lighting , all.
Greetings ^_^

Patri Balanovsky said...

man.....
can I just say what a HUGE fan I am of your work?....
ho, well...there. I said it.
seriously - you are a great inspiration. awesome style and skills you got there. keep making us all happy, buddy. :)

hans bacher said...

stunning! beautyful drawings and phantastic inventive

Joseph Sapulich said...

Dan—your imagery is inspired. You're very blessed.

Philip Dimitriadis said...

Really nice work Daniel. Great designs. Thanks for sharing your work and experiences from Blue Sky.
So nice to see such care and thought placed into your environments. Very inspirational !!!

Anonymous said...

Daniel, estoy verdaderamente impactado por tu trabajo....sin palabras.
Me parece fabuloso el proceso creativo de la concepción de los distintos 'escenarios'. Explota la cratividad pura, la reinterpretación del mundo robot es genial. Es siniestra, divertida, elaborada y primitiva a la vez.

Sos un capo !!!

Maly Siri said...

awesome! impressive! i love these artworks!

Sistermoon said...

They are all fantastic, I love! !

Unknown said...

Oh God, your blog is like candy to the eyes! I must follow it! :D

anima-base said...

Wow. It's really awesome artwork.
I love concept of Robot Arcihtecture.

Parka said...

Cool. I've the art book for Robots and these are not even included.

An said...

Caralludas las imagenes, lastima que no tengo ni idea de inlges. SAúdos e apertas.

CompleteDesignz said...

So this are Daniel Lopez famous art work. I'am loving it they are beautiful.I'am one of the person you've been emailing...
leslie_chula88@yahoo.com

JOBA said...

Wow! My! So beautiful and stunning draws. Congratulations.

Mattias Adolfsson said...

very cool stuff

Gabby Zapata said...

Your words of wisdom are very inspiring. Beautiful designs!

1000 Hells said...

Awesome work, too bad the final result can't look like pencil concepts. That movie would have been a million times better if it was a murder mystery with a darker tone and a visual style reminiscent of watercolor and pencils.

Unknown said...

woooooooOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!!! awesome works!

Caerphilly said...

I love these concepts! Amazing!

Daniel Guti said...


muy buenas don Daniel, espero se encuentre muy bien, usted no me conoce pero soy un gran admirador suyo, vivo en Colombia y desde que leí el articulo que hablaba sobre usted me interese mucho en compartir opiniones, ya que estoy estudiando lo mismo y quisiera llegar a ser alguien tan talentoso como usted, que bueno seria que me enviaras su correo para yo compartirle algunos trabajos para que me guie, igualmente nuestros correos son estos,
daniel.gutierrez@solucionesfuturas.com
jivanho902@hotmail.com


Muchas gracias por la atención

Daniel Guti said...


muy buenas don Daniel, espero se encuentre muy bien, usted no me conoce pero soy un gran admirador suyo, vivo en Colombia y desde que leí el articulo que hablaba sobre usted me interese mucho en compartir opiniones, ya que estoy estudiando lo mismo y quisiera llegar a ser alguien tan talentoso como usted, que bueno seria que me enviaras su correo para yo compartirle algunos trabajos para que me guie, igualmente nuestros correos son estos,
daniel.gutierrez@solucionesfuturas.com
jivanho902@hotmail.com


Muchas gracias por la atención

ahmed said...

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