Tampa Bay Buccaneers-

In-Game Graphics Project

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. They have won the super bowl twice, once against the Oakland raiders in 2002, and once against the KC Chiefs in 2020.

Design Challenge

This challenge is to create exciting and dynamic animations to enhance the live game experience of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers Football Game. The goal is to get the crowd engaged and excited for the plays, and to encourage participation. The football audience is approximately 60% male (however the female fans are growing year over year) and are usually between 25-50 years old, and who are ready to commit fully to the team they love. They are looking to have a full engaged experience watching the game and team they love.

Research

In selecting this project, I decided to use this opportunity to collaborate with a partner. Jay Zhou has excellent 2D skills and I decided he would be a great partner for the project. Jay Zhou and I went to visit the “Raymond James stadium and took several pictures around the stadium. We were looking at their font choices, colors and general design of the Tampa Bucs Brand. The animations the team displays, gain reactions at the games but also when seen on TV in bars, restaurants and homes. Fan would react when a touchdown, first down or interception would happen. If designed well these animations would cause people to stand up, shout, and celebrate creating the energy for the game.

Tampa Buccaneers vs Washington Commanders 9/8/2024

The following week I went out to the Buccaneers vs. Commanders game, and recorded footage on my phone. I was able to see firsthand the animations as well as observe the crowd for their behavior and energy.

Example of Stadium Graphics at the game. the animation is primarily 2D

After returning from the stadium, Jay and I plugged all of the fonts we found into font finder to get some font references, which would eventually lead us to the font we selected. We ran those fonts in adobe fonts to see if we could find some newer and modern styles that were similar but could add a new aspect to the design.

Design Idea 1- Comic Book Aggression

The 3D Comic style can enhance football’s strong, powerful and aggressive nature by showcasing exaggerated impacts like tackles creating shockwaves or balls leaving fiery trails. These dynamic 2D effects visually highlight the game’s raw power.

Intense Action: Toon designs excel at capturing fast-paced, high-energy action. By using aggressive 3D overlay with 2D graphics, rapid-fire play sequences become even more thrilling and intense.

“Bayshore Power” concept infuses the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ branding with a bold 3D island design that captures the essence of Tampa Bay’s dynamic and aggressive spirit. By integrating a 3D visual style that highlights the scenic beauty and ruggedness of the Bayshore area, this new direction revitalizes the Buccaneers’ graphics while maintaining their signature energy and ferocity.

Reference

Reference for design

Reference

Design Idea 2- Bayside Power

Font

Design 1 Comic Book Aggression

3D x 2D Toonshader

Characteristics: Big, Bold, Colorful and dynamic.

Why it Works: Emphasizes and exaggerates power and strength.

Design Elements

Color

Keeping the established Tampa Bay Bucs brand traditional colors. In addition we decided to utilize bold and dramatic colors to emphasize the Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s strength, power and aggression.

Styleframes

Design 2 -Bayside Power

3D

Characteristics: Dramatic, epic

Why it Works: Showcases the Power of the Bucs with big bold 3D effects.

Alumni Sans Collegiate One Regular has a bold and solid structure that conveys strength, confidence, and energy—qualities often associated with sports teams and athletic brands.

Note:

This project was not selected as the preferred option, so we didn’t develop specific styleframes.

Tampa Bay Buccaneer Stadium Package

Comic Book Aggression

The 3D Comic style can enhance football’s aggressive nature by showcasing exaggerated impacts, like tackles creating shockwaves or balls leaving fiery trails. These dynamic 2D effects visually highlight the game’s raw power.

Design Style

  • Characteristics: 3D Toon X 2D

  • Intense Action: Toon designs excel at capturing fast-paced, high-energy action. By using aggressive 3D overlay with 2D graphics, rapid-fire play sequences become even more thrilling and intense.

1st Pass

Motion tests

2nd Pass

Technical Execution

Initial Development

Working on the project with my partner Jay, we decided for efficiency to split the project into two parts. We agreed I would do the majority of the 3D aspects and Jay would be doing primarily 2D, this would allow us to apply our strengths respectively.

Touchdown!

1. Model all of our assets in C4D and sculpting the skull to match the Tampa Bay Bucs logo.

5. Overlay 3D on the 2D animation created and combined with some additional 2D effects on top.

Get Loud!

1. Model all of our assets in C4D

4. Import file into C4D and textured it with the Redshift Volume Material

Let’s Go Bucs

1. Export Type out of Adobe Illustrator after creating outlines.

4. Animation with all effects together.

2. 3D animation, primarily done in C4D.

4. Import file into C4D and textured with the Redshift Volume Material

2. 3D animation, primarily done in C4D.

5. Overlay 3D on the 2D animation created and combine with additional 2D effects on top.

2. Import type into C4D and animate.

3. Explosions created in Houdini and rendered as a VDB to import in C4D.

6. Animations combined and running together.

3. Overlay 3D on the 2D animation created and combine with some additional 2D effects on top.

3. Animated both pieces together and render.

6. Animations combined and running together.

3. Explosions created in Houdini and rendered as a VDB to import in C4D.

1st down

1. Import type into C4D after creating outlines in Adobe illustrator.

Looping Flag

1. Flag scene setup in C4D.

Looping Sail

1. Setup scene in C4D.

2. Model Swords based on the Tampa Bay Bucs’ design.

4. Overlay 3D on the 2D animation created and combine with additional 2D effects on top.

2. After scene is rendered it is brought into AE for 2D effects and animation.

2. Overlay 3D on the 2D animation created and combined with additional 2D effects on top.

5. Animations combined and running together.

3. Final Product.

3. Final Product.

Final Animations

Mock-up of animations at stadium

Learning and Outcomes

Working on a project with a partner requires a lot of communication between partners. We needed to regularly meet up and discuss the best possible solution for a given situation before we made any significant design changes, this was especially apparent in the beginning when we were still perfecting our design. We had to learn to manage each other’s expectations and conflicting project needs.

We leaned into our strengths, and covered for each other’s weaknesses, I would handle primarily 3D and create the textures and models we used, while my partner Jay would do the majority of the 2D work and animation that when combined created a very new and interesting piece.

My partner on this project was excellent. Jay was detailed and creative, and was really good at meeting agreed deadlines, and planning for success. Here is Jay Zhou’s Website: https://www.jayzhou01.com/