In the SnoW

For this project, undertaken as part of my postgraduate (3D Game Art) module Lighting and Rendering, I drew inspiration from Japanese manga and anime, with a particular focus on their cultural and aesthetic foundations. Influences from series such as Noragami, Ergo Proxy, Attack on Titan, and Demon Slayer informed my approach, as their poetic and philosophical narratives—rooted in Japanese folklore and history—demonstrate a rich interplay between narrative and visual design. A recurring motif across these works is the depiction of snow-covered temples and shrines, often following a blizzard, which I identified as a significant atmospheric and emotional device. These settings provided the foundation for my exploration of lighting within 3D environments, enabling me to investigate how light, shadow, and atmosphere contribute to mood, storytelling, and spatial perception.