This week, I worked on the VFX and compositing for the final sequences. In After Effects, I created several effects to enhance the dramatic tension—especially the shots where the protagonist experiences a psychic attack inside the sanctuary. For those moments, I added lens distortion, subtle screen shake, and layered impact effects to make the scene feel more intense and unstable, as if the environment itself were reacting to the character’s pain.
After finalising the effects, I moved into Premiere Pro for the editing stage. I refined the pacing, adjusted the timing between cuts, and made sure the transitions supported the emotional flow of the story. For the music, I used selected pieces inspired by Dark Souls cinematics, as they carry that Gothic, solemn, and slightly desolate atmosphere I wanted. Pairing the visuals with this kind of soundtrack helped the whole film feel more cohesive and immersive.
Throughout this project, I gained a much clearer understanding of how lighting can shape storytelling.
Different colours, intensities, and contrast levels dramatically influence the mood of a scene—blue tones create tension, warm light enhances a sacred atmosphere, while green lighting introduces a sense of unease.
I also learned to adjust exposure, contrast, and fill lights for individual shots, making the character stand out more clearly and giving each frame richer depth and visual intent.
Creating six entirely different environments taught me the importance of atmosphere and visual balance.
I learned how to avoid flat or empty compositions by using terrain variation, fog layers, unified colour palettes, and symbolic props.
Working with references from Dark Souls, Diablo, and Skyrim helped me build a stronger visual direction and understand how to reinterpret inspiration into my own design language.
Building all three main characters from scratch gave me hands-on experience with clean topology and the importance of a reliable rig.
I also encountered technical challenges—such as switching constraints when the ring moves from one hand to the other—but solving these issues improved my understanding of how animation and rigging interact.
Completing this project allowed me to experience the full production pipeline of a cinematic animation—from story development and character creation to lighting, animation, VFX, and final compositing. It was a challenging process, but every stage pushed me to refine my visual language and deepen my understanding of how different elements work together to shape mood and narrative.
Through constant iteration, problem-solving, and exploration, I gradually developed a clearer sense of direction and gained confidence in making creative decisions. This project not only improved my technical skills but also helped me understand how to build an atmosphere, communicate emotion, and guide the viewer’s experience through visual storytelling.
In the end, Ring of Eternal Eclipse became more than just a final major project—it became a record of how much I grew as an artist throughout the process.