F O R M U L A E
FORMULA E

Stage Visuals

Overview

For clients MDL Beast and Production Glue, Xite Labs has produced 3 concerts’ worth of custom, high-fidelity CG animations. From iridescent materials flowing over the latest Formula car, to abstractions on cybertrack pathways, Xite has developed sprawling, lush digital vignettes that celebrate the kinetic energy of the Formula racing series.

Combined with elements and stylistic references to electronic music, the super wide visuals bring the massive LED stage to life for the 20,000 fans in attendance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Xite turnkeys creative, from mood boards to finished animation, partnering with the client lead creative producers. Cinema 4D has been the animation tool of choice. As of 2023, Xite is now using Unreal Engine to build and output final rendered movies. With super-fast output times, the animation team has had the flexibility to make quick iterations on the animations, and deliver finished files with more time to adjust leading up to final delivery.

The shows are programmed and operated using Disguise media servers

My task as Lead Designer/Animator was to help create the initial mood boards using inspiration from the Formula E series it self along with keywords giving to us by clients and then transforming that information into viable concepts on witch the team could then build looks for the stage.

After this stage we began creating a number of concepts of which some where handed to other animators and the rest was then finished by me.  Further more I helped oversee some of the workflow and helped guide some of the other animators along the way.

  • CLIENT:

    Xitelabs

  • Production

    MDL Beast and Production Glue

  • DATE:

    2023

  • Role

    Lead Designer/Animator

  • Tools

    Cinema 4D & Octane Render

VISUAL MASH-UP

Designs

Look: Break Lights

Brake Lights is all about showcasing the rear end of the Formula E race car. Drawing inspiration from its aerodynamic features and aggressive design, we deconstructed and creatively reassembled the rear end to fit the screen in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Through the skillful use of light and texture, we accentuated the car’s curves and lines, bringing them to life.

Leveraging C4D’s powerful effector and field tools, we skillfully crafted the visual piece, infusing it with dynamic energy and impact.

Look: Dichroic Fabric

Formula E recently unveiled their new car for the 2023 season, and we sought to capture the same spirit in our visuals by employing flowing fabrics to reveal the car.

Inspired by the new car’s color-shifting material, we integrated the same material into the fabric, maintaining a cohesive theme throughout the visuals.

To achieve this effect, we made use of the newly released 2023 version of Cinema 4D, leveraging its advanced cloth simulation features. This allowed us to quickly iterate numerous versions of the fabric flowing over the car, strategically revealing key sections at crucial moments.

Look: Start lights

The start of each race is an iconic moment—lights out and away we go! Our objective was to infuse this energy into the visual piece. To accomplish this, we employed trusses, lights, and various components of the car to create a cohesive and captivating display that perfectly filled and shaped the screen.

Utilizing Cinema 4D’s advanced mograph features, we expertly animated the lights in a sequential fashion, complemented by dynamic movements of other car parts. This combination brought life and excitement to the visual, capturing the essence of the thrilling race start.

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