WHOA! Where has this site/thread been and why haven’t I found it sooner than this? This is great-looking stuff you are doing!
YIKES! RUN!!! It’s the Pinis!
Thbtptpptttt!
Seriously, this is about the best rendering of an EQ character I’ve seen. What’s the status of this? Is it still in progress? As someone pointed out, the thread’s been quiet.
Odds are the holidays kicked in, and that slowed down fun worktime. Been here, done that!
So… wasn’t there supposed to have been some elfquest animated movie or something by now? I recall reading about development several times over the years.
(Ex GF was a huge EQ fan, and I still have the wave dancers books.)
There’s supposed to have been an Elfquest movie a few times over the years. Ever the bridesmaid…
However, the latest news (as of July) is that Warner Bros. took the license, and there’s already a director and producer on board. We’ve never got anywhere near this point before, so there’s a lot more optimism.
There’s a forum on the Elfquest web site all about it here:
I would love to see an ElfQuest movie. That would definitely score big at the box office. It would be really cool if they did it using the new 3D technology too!
Breaking the long silence… crack!
Lately, with all the new plugin’s from those generous Pixologic guys, I’ve found myself opening my Elfquest Ztool again, looking at it and thinking it hasn’t deserved being left unfinished. I’ve come a long way on this model (my first serious model). With 3D-printing becoming easier maybe I should make the best of it and have it printed…
I just looked up this old thread and what do I see?! Richard Pini (co-creator of the Elfquest series) has made a comment, and a nice one too! :eek:
Thanks a lot Richard, nice to hear from you, and it’s an honour. Over the last year I’ve collected albums 1 to 20 (my favourites), the little collection is almost complete. (still missing no. 14 in Dutch. Seems to be rare)
Elfquest still captures my imagination (I secretly howl at a full moon when nobody’s watching :lol:) and I hear it looks like there really is going to be an EQ movie. It must be such a thrilling experience for you and Wendy! My heart already hurts that I’ll only participate as an excited audience member.
Having made a few amateur movies I know how hard it is to get on screen the spirit and mood of the ideas that are in your head, or on paper. I wish you luck, courage and wisdom in working with the moviemakers and studio.
Personally, my mental version of an Elfquest movie has always been as a 3D animation. It would be so cool to see 3D used in a major movie not in a cartoon-like style, but something with the grace of and atmosphere of some Japanese animation masters. A combination of beauty, action and real human drama. I’ve read somewhere that the proposed EQ movie will be live-action? Will be great to see how they will pull it off! Whatever style it will be, as long as it’s true to the spirit of the story it will rock!
Well, thát does it! If I can take the time to write such a long post I can take the time to work some more on Cutter! Stay tuned for new updates. I hope the wonderful ZCentral members are again willing to accept my long posts, slow progress, and asking for advice. 
I stopped working on this model because posing the heavy geometry proved só frustrating. Since then, Zbrush has become better and better, so I’ll try again. With the new Decimation Master exporting a workable model to Lightwave isn’t a problem. Now I’ll have to see what’s best: posing in Lightwave, or in Zbrush.
I’m going for a pose I’ve seen drawn on the back of one of the EQ comics.
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Cutter is leaning casually against a tree looking friendly but dangerous at the same time. If I could capture that I would be completly happy.
Hear goes…
Go for it, Plakkie. 
I will also reopen my Jana-model again in the next few weeks.
Had familiar problems as you had.
Plakkie! Plakkie! Plakkie! Plakkie! Plakkie! Plakkie! Plakkie!
Cheering you on Plakkie! :D
Rasta, Dustbin; feels like nothing’s changed! Thank you guys! small_orange_diamond:)
and Ralf, give Lana a shot; she deserves it! 
Keep up the good work.
I enjoyed the stories when i was younger, and their still great!
and Ralf, give Lana a shot; she deserves it!
Cool! Everyones getting the Z Bug again!!
You got a link to that one Rastaman?
Sadicus: thanks, they still are indeed.
I prepared the model for ‘fase 2’, cleaned it up, gave the subtools clear names (like “Pants” in stead of “Total_test_11”), re-applied materials in the new Zbrush and made some minor changes to the hair. Spend some time studying the model that I have now and reading ALL posts in this thread to get me charged.
I made a compilation of how Cutter looks right now, thought I’d post it.
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](javascript:zb_insimg(‘145991’,‘Cutter_Fase2.jpg’,1,0))
I’ve decided to work on the following things before trying to pose:
-the knees are a mess. Uneven and lumpy. I’d like a few fancy leather wrinkles and folds in there, I’ll have to find some reference pictures to see how.
- there is something wrong with the mouth. It isn’t working I feel, so I’ll mess around with it and see if something good comes from it.
- the hands need more detailing. Nails etc.
- I never made real feet 'cause of the boots, but maybe it’s nice to have a Cutter model that can be undressed.
So, I’ll first finish this list, and then start posing. I’ve started seeing the model in my head again at work and while driving. Feels good! 
Thats an excellent job of taking an artist style and keeping exactly true to form in 3d. Its cool to see first time models since I am new to zbrush. Amazingly true to the old artists vision.
I’ve always been a big elfquest fan. Cutter is a great character and you are doing a great job with this model.
If I could offer a (hopefully) constructive crit. Your cutter appears to have a more heroic head/body proportions. This makes him look more like a full grown man and hurts the child-warrior/ elf “feel” of the character. When you get the chance you might want to analyze the proportions of a good illustration from one of the graphic novels and see how their head to body ratio compares to yours.
Skianslow: thanks! Although I do try to be true to the original I noticed that it seems impossible not to let the model be influenced by my own mental picture of Cutter. It’s probably what makes art fresh. 
Drago CG: that’s an interesting crit! I’ll look into it. In the first comics Cutter’s still very childish, and he developes to a more serious character over the series. I’m curious if that’s visible in the original drawings as well, certainly concerning proportions… I’m aiming for halfway between child and responsible grownup. Thanks!
http://www.elfquest.com/fun/images/turnCut.jpg
and
http://www.elfquest.com/fun/images/headscutter.jpg
are excellent reference images of Cutter.
I hope you will continue to work on him and get him ready to ride
a wolf or even just pose in the forest. New Moon the sword shouldn’t
be too difficult to shape since you did Pini Elf Ears!
Even Wendy Pini goes from rough draft to finished art:
http://www.elfquest.com/fun/images/cutterstudy06a.jpg
Keep up the fantastic work.
–Nightsea
Thanks Nightsea!
those images I’ve used many times to compare my model to the drawings.
Maybe I should do it again…
Man, making a digital wolf seems just as impossible as making Cutter seemed when I started on him. So… who knows? 
About New Moon (Cutter’s sword) on the other hand you are totally right: I tried it once and failed, but I did manage to get those ears right, didn’t I? So no excuses!
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Had some fun making it; base shape in Lightwave, refinement in Zbrush. Close to the mark I think. Have to give it a nicer material though, Stumpfs material is pretty good, but I have to make something closer to the drawings.
Well, now he has a sword I should start working on the hands, or else he can’t hold it to pick his still non-existend fingernails. 
Cheers Nightsea
Nice! Moving fast on this now!! :D
did you find that head front and side? Are there more examples somewhere?