The Valiant - Ingame Cutscenes
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Client
KITE Games
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Date
05-20-2022
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Project link
- Role: Lead VFX / Motion Generalist and Technical Contact | Ionart Studios
- Core Stack: Fusion Studio, Photoshop, Encoding and Delivery
- Main Focus: End-to-End Cutscene Production, 2.5D Parallax Animation, Camera Choreography, Multi-Layer Compositing, Direct Client and Art Direction Communication
This long-term project ran parallel to the development of the strategy game The Valiant.
Over several years, I took full ownership of creating the game’s 13 narrative cinematic cutscenes,
bridging the chapters of the story.
Working in a highly independent and collaborative setup, I served as the primary technical and creative contact for the studio,
managing the entire production pipeline from raw asset ingest to final delivery.
The project required transforming flat, layered 2D artwork into immersive, animated 2.5D cinematic sequences with deep parallax effects,
establishing a rich, story-driven atmosphere that aligned perfectly with the game's overall aesthetic.
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Direct Creative and Technical Collaboration:
I managed the continuous feedback loops and technical alignment directly with the Art Director and 2D artists at KITE Games.
This close partnership ensured a smooth asset-delivery pipeline and allowed us to iterate quickly on visual storytelling and style updates throughout the years. -
2.5D Parallax Animation and Scene Assembly:
I ingested complex, multi-layered Photoshop files into Fusion Studio, restructuring them into dynamic 2.5D spaces.
I choreographed the cinematic virtual cameras, animated individual layers, and applied custom motion paths to bring the static illustrations to life with realistic depth, motion and cinematic pacing. -
Atmospheric Tinting and Color Integration:
Since the source artwork arrived primarily in grayscale, I took charge of the full digital grading and tinting process.
Following the director’s stylistic guidance, I mapped out specific color palettes for each scene, blending the separate layers into a visually cohesive and moody final look. -
VFX, Finishing and Mastering:
I enhanced the cutscenes with subtle visual effects, atmospheric elements, and lighting tweaks inside Fusion to glue the layers together.
I also managed the entire mastering pipeline, handling the final encoding and formatting to guarantee flawless playback within the game engine's delivery specifications.