Fear the Dreg began as a simple concept and visual prototype but gradually evolved into a series of animated short films. Set in a polluted oceanic world, the project follows Sam, a young Octomaton, as he embarks on a journey through a dangerous landscape while uncovering the mysteries surrounding the monstrous entity known as the Dreg. The production also became one of our first major opportunities to explore the capabilities of Unreal Engine 5.

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I was responsible for creating the main character, Sam, including his different transformations throughout the story, as well as producing environment assets and several visual effects. In addition to asset creation, I assembled the cinematic scenes inside Unreal Engine 5, bringing together characters, environments, lighting, and effects into the final sequences.

The original concept for Sam was first sculpted in clay as a physical maquette, allowing us to explore the character's proportions and personality before translating him into a digital asset. As the project evolved, the design went through several iterations to better support the story and animation.

Because the project coincided with our early adoption of Unreal Engine 5, it involved solving many new technical and artistic challenges. From building real-time cinematic workflows to integrating characters, effects, and environments, the production became an invaluable opportunity to experiment with new tools while helping shape a project that grew far beyond its original prototype.