Rise Of The Robot

The top artists behind CG robots discuss their creations, as well as sharing tips, tricks and techniques so that you can build your own

Robots have been an enduring presence in the 3D art community for decades, with creatives constantly looking to put their own stamp on the sci-ficoncept. From androids to mech suits, household droids to war machines, artists’ portfolios are awash with mechanical marvels. Just what is it about robots that keeps 3D artists coming back? And how do different artists approach the subject? 3D World has gathered some of the very best bot builders to tell us just that.

Steve Talkowski, a character designer, 3D modeller and VR artist based in Los Angeles, has his own ideas about the enduring appeal of robots in CG circles. “They are a fun way to anthropomorphise the continual progress of technology and AI,” he tells 3D World. As technology advances in the real world, so too do artists’ robotic creations. This constant stream of inspiration ensures the metallic characters never go out of style.

“We have grown up in a world where sci-fi has become possibilities rather than just fantasy,” says Garreth Jackson, a Serbia-based hard-surface artist and concept designer with a passion for sci-fiartwork. “Sci-fi films, video games and novels play an influential role in the designs and concepts that artists come up with,” he continues. “The realities of AI, virtual reality and advancing technology are no longer far-fetched concepts in futuristic movies, but are now our present, and what we artists create reflects this.”

David Domingo Jimenez is a lead texture and shading artist for set and props at Ilion Animation Studios in Spain. Discussing the appeal of robots to 3D artists, he adds: “Making a robot is always a fun challenge, with their complex pieces, gears and prostheses. Robots have always existed in pop culture and even more so today, when technology has evolved so much that they even exist in real life. Robots are always in fashion.”