VFX Supervisor He Sun (MSc Digital Visual Effects, 2008) has begun a Kickstarter campaign alongside friends from the entertainment industry to launch their project Cotswold Mist – an illustrated cinematic fantasy novel for both adults and older children.
The book will feature 28 stunning digital illustrations, which will bring to life the iconic Cotswold scenery as the story takes you to picturesque towns, villages and landmarks. Readers will encounter mythical entities along the way whilst unravelling the secrets hidden within.
Reflecting on the creating the imagery, He said ‘I am incredibly passionate about Cotswold Mist because it allows me to blend my love for storytelling, mythology, and visual artistry into a single immersive experience.
‘What sets this book apart from a traditional fantasy novel is its hyper-realistic artwork, which has been created in collaboration with renowned talents from the game and film industries. To achieve a cinematic look, the team travelled to the Cotswolds to 3D scan real locations and infused them with additional fantasy elements’.
As the projects Creative Director He is boldly looking forward. ‘The book is only our first milestone’ he maintains. ‘We aim to expand the story into more interactive and immersive experiences, including an interactive book, VR experiences, and eventually, a game, film and TV series’.
‘Our goal is to build the Misty Universe with compelling, down-to-earth characters, quirky yet charming misfits, and incredible beasts and spirits, creating a sprawling, immersive world that our readers can explore in various forms’.
He credits his time at Kent as being ‘pivotal in shaping [his] career’ and enabling him to transition from the game industry to his current VFX role. By providing a ‘strong foundation in critical thinking, creativity, and technical problem-solving’ he stresses that the university’s curriculum had been invaluable throughout his complex and innovative projects.
As well as his work on bringing Cotswold Mist to life, He is a BAFTA member and VFX Supervisor with more than 15 years of experience in the industry. He has worked on major game franchises like James Bond and Dead Space, and renowned film and television projects such as The Lion King and The Mandalorian.
You can follow the progress of Cotswold Mist on the projects Kickstarter page.
