1. Project 1:The Magic Sword

1.1. Format

320X256 pixels, 100 frames minimum, QuickTime Video and .blend file.

1.2. Background

The concept of a magic sword, one that bestows upon its owner superhuman strength and courage, has been part of the art and literature of many cultures. Stories of magic swords have been around since at least the early bronze age, a time when all metal was thought to have magical properties.

In Norse mythology, the god Frey "possessed a magic sword that struck out at Jotuns of its own accord." Ancient Chinese mythology relates the tale of Lü Dongbin, who "slew dragons with a magic sword". In Japanese mythology, there is a magical sword called Kusanagi, as well as a repeated tradition that the katanas of Masamune were of such high quality as to be near-magical. In Greek mythology, Theseus was given a magic sword with which to kill the Minotaur by Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos.

The Bible of Abrahamic faiths relates in the Book of Genesis how God, seeking to deter Adam and Eve from returning to the Garden of Eden placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, with flaming sword which turned every way. By some accounts, the Cherubim are replaced with the Archangel Michael, who welds a similar weapon.

Excalibur, from the legend of King Arthur, is arguably the most famous of magic swords, although it is not clear from the various accounts of the Arthur legend whether the sword itself was possessed of magical powers or merely had a magical origin. Many interpretations of the legend appear to endow the sword with a cutting strength and durability beyond that of ordinary weapons, making it unbreakable by anything but wrongful acts of its user. Excalibur's primary power was apparently spiritual, as it served to identify the chosen king and instill loyalty to him, as given to him by The Lady of the Lake.

In the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, many magical swords are wielded by important characters. In The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf uses his sword Glamdring in his battle with the Balrog. In The Two Towers, Frodo and Samwise carry the sword Sting which glows blue when orcs or goblins are near. In The Return of the King, Aragorn bears the sword Anduril, a potent weapon against the evil of Mordor and a symbol of his right to rule.

1.3. Process

Design a magic sword . This is your magic sword. Its shape, color and texture are of your own making (It may not even be recognizable as a sword). What magic it possesses is yours to bestow. The design must include some type of animation. This can be as simple as a fly around or as complicated as your Blender skills allow. The Sword must have at least one texture attached to it. This is no ordinary sword - it is magic. Use your imagination.

1.4. Student Examples

Examples of this project can be viewed in the Student Work folder.