Blamo
This project is based on the 1997 Manga Blame! by Tsutomu Nihei. The goal is to create 3D animations and interactive experiences that recreate scenes from the manga, fill gaps in the narrative, and expand upon the dubious “canon” of Blame!’s ambiguous story. The art style used by Nihei evolved throughout Blame!’s publication and some retcons were made in reprints of the manga. The project seeks to rectify visual discrepancies, establish a cohesive look, and introduce new elements consistent with that look.
Kyrii/Killy : Protagonist of Blame!. Spelling of his name varies. This article will either display both spellings or “Kyrii” as this is the spelling in the revised 2017 Master Edition of the manga, and I understand this spelling represents how the name should be pronounced in English.
Kyrii’s apparel changes throughout Blame! with little or no recognition. Illustrations by the author depict anachronous variants of Kyrii’s apparel, including some totally distinct from anything he wears in the manga. The shape of his face and hair changes throughout the manga, and Kyrii has a unique appearance in the 2017 animated movie. The result is difficulty determining exactly what Kyrii is supposed to look like. The form of the Blamo model is mostly inspired by cover art from the 2017 Master Edition, with some alterations, based on a statue produced by Figurama. Material selection is almost completely based on this statue.
Bridge - 01 “Giger Style“ : This element is based on an illustration that appears to show Kyrii/Killy walking across a concrete bridge with curved metal decorations. The blue, curved metal reminds me of the art of HR Giger.
Bridge - 01 "Giger Style" : It is unclear from the reference illustration what materials this bridge is made from. For variety, I used concrete for the walking surface and metal for the blue accent on the sides. I have also added pipes, working lights, and metal grates to the underside.
Bridge 01 - "Geiger Style" Color Map : To me, the bridge appears to have some HR Giger inspired organic shapes. My model incorporates straighter lines and smoother curves which should meld better with Blame’s later art style. Also, it requires less polygons.
Early Blame! Illustration? - Cropped : Appears to be an example of Blame!’s early art style. Presumably, shows Kyrii/Killy walking across a precarious bridge in a weathered section of the city.