Imagine unearthing a time capsule, not filled with trinkets but brimming with vibrant echoes of bygone eras—this is what unfolds in Assassin’s Creed concept art. Within each stroke lies a gateway to lost civilizations, silently echoing the clang of swords and the whispers of historical intrigue.
This isn’t just about pictures on a screen. It’s an exploration into a unique tapestry of artistry where game design sketches morph realities, and character renderings breathe life into the heroes and villains that have captivated millions.
As we delve into the storied tapestries of Ubisoft’s masterpieces, we tap into something more profound, something that transcends mere pixels and polygons.
By the time this read concludes, not only will the vivid strokes of Assassin’s Creed artwork be demystified, you’ll grasp how history interweaves with digital brushstrokes to evoke a narrative as rich as the game itself.
We’ll unearth the secrets of the creative process in game design, dissect the finesse behind environmental design AC, and celebrate the artists who conjure this magic—revealing to you the vibrant undercurrents of AC game graphics and beyond.
Prepare for a leap of faith into the artistic abyss that is the essence of Assassin’s Creed—the art, history, and the unseen creative battles waged long before the first gamer ever presses ‘start’.
Movie concept
Image source: Fox Movies
There is no question of Desmond Miles and his ancestor Altaïr ibn La’had, a 12th-century assassin who moves between Damascus, Jerusalem and Saint-Jean-d’Acre, or Ezio Auditore da Firenze, the young Florentine nobleman, let alone Edward Kenway or Arno Victor Dorian, the heroes of the games. The film is conceived as an expansion of the Assassin’s Creed universe.
But here again, we must plunge the audience into a troubled world, a pivotal time that announces a break. The team opted for the Inquisition in fifteenth-century Spain, between Seville and Granada, an ideal playhouse for the new hero Aguilar.
While the games have won through their incredible historical environment, the contemporary part takes over in the film, with the hero Callum Lynch, via the animus that connects the two worlds, is projected in 1492.
We find also the quarrel between Templars and Assassins on a quest background to find and protect the artifact, the apple of Eden. In this, the film sticks more than ever to the DNA of the game. Michael Fassbender slips adroitly into the skin of these two characters past and present.
Assassin’s Creed concept art
If Assassin’s Creed is to stick to the DNA of the game, it does not have to be a simple adaptation.
Jean de Rivières, a Disney alumna who joined UMP’s dream team in his debut, said that Sébastien Puel and Jean Guesdon who are the producers of the franchise asked them to make the same effort as they for games by creating a new story and exploring a new story.
Philippe Gaulier as the visual artist and art director created the Assassin’s Creed concept art with masterful expertise. He did the concept art for other movies like Thor: the dark world, Suicide Squad, and Doctor Strange.
Concept art of the game
Raphael Lacoste is behind the concept art of Assassin’s Creed franchise as Ubisoft’s art director. He looks beyond concept art alone after playing games like Rick Dangerous, Another World and Pitfall, but loved storylines.
Assassins
Image source: Darek Zabrocki
The Assassins Brotherhood is known by many names; during the early years – the Hidden Ones, the Assassins Order, during the Crusades – the Hashashin.
They were the sworn enemies and an organized assassin order against the Templar Order and throughout history fought a continuous war against the Order.
Templars
Image source: Jama Jurabaev
While the Assassin Brotherhood fight for human survival, the Templars want to remove free will in order to save humanity. The battle is continuing as the Assassins encourage new ideas and individual growth. With the rise of the cult dedicated to Isus who wants to rule humanity, the First Will, the Brotherhood find themselves pitted against this new enemy too.
Assassin’s Creed concept art: Characters
Nathan
Image source: Alessandro Paviolo
Nathan took part in major assassin operations between 2009 and 2011 due to his intensive knowledge of Abstergo which he worked for from 1999 until 2007. He was a security and computer specialist and it was during his time there that he found out about his father’s murder by the Templars. He was unaware of his father’s connection to the Assassin’s Brotherhood. Miles recruited Nathan in 2008 to become a part of the assassins.
Baptiste
Image source: council.assassinscreed.com
Baptiste was the Haitian voodoo leader from 1725 until 1766 and ancestor of Moussa. At first, he was an Assassin, but he formed his own Maroon society after leaving the brotherhood. Baptiste was killed in 1766 by Agate’s student, the Assassin Aveline de Grandpre.
Moussa
Image source: screenrant.com
Moussa was kidnapped by Abstergo Industries to be used as a subject due to his ancestry to Baptiste. Moussa turned to fellow captives, Emir, Lin, and Nathan all of whom were to become Assassins under the leadership of Moussa.
Aguilar de Nerha
Image source: Bao Vu
Aguilar was a master from 1455 until 1526 and played a prominent role during the Spanish Acquisition. He is an ancestor of Callum Lynch. He was the son of two of the Assassin Order’s members but join the Order after the deaths of his parents during the Spanish Acquisition and became a member in 1492.
Callum Lynch
Image source: C.J. Velasco
Callum Lynch was recruited to recover the Apple of Eden by Abstergo. The artifact was last in the possession of Callum’s ancestor, Aguilar de Nerha.
Lin
Image source: kymkemp.com
Lin was another abductee for genetic memory abilities. She was an Assassin captive at the same time as Emir, Moussa, Nathan and subsequently Callum Lynch who was not affiliated to the Assassins.
Arno Victor Dorian
Image source: Vassilis Dimitros
If you watched Assassin’s Creed: Unity you would have noticed the main assassin, Arno. This plays off between 1789 during the French Revolution and the 1794 Thermidorian Reaction. Arno discovers the murder of his biological father after being raised by the Grand-Master of the Templar Order, Francois de la Serre. Only then does he switch sides and become the main assassin of the Brotherhood.
The environment of the movie
The scenario of games is based on the Animus, an imaginary device that would explore, through our genetic code, the experiences of our ancestors. Even without following the guiding thread of history, one can simply get lost in the streets of a city, as one would do on vacation, but also in the atmosphere and the events of a time. The scenarios sometimes take (often) liberties with the historical reality, but the essential thing is elsewhere: to propose to “feel the epoch” by immersing the player in a detailed reproduction of the daily life of these cities.
Apple of Eden
Image source: Sabin Boykinov
The Isu is the creator of the technology, Apple of Eden which can control humankind. It is a rounded metallic sphere which is encased in a larger shell to protect it. It was first used in the 15th century and in 2016 the Templars wanted to locate it to eliminate free will.
Hidden Blade
Image source: Daniil Ramin
The hidden blade dates back to the Achaemenid Empire with the killing of the Persian King by Assassin Darius. The Hidden Blade gives the Assassin the ability to move freely and draw no attention to themselves when they want to eliminate an enemy.
Spanish Inquisition
Image source: gamerevolution.com
Pope Sixtus IV authorized the Spanish Inquisition in 1478 after the request by the ruling king and queen of Spain. Its aim was to maintain Catholic orthodoxy.
The Spanish Brotherhood of Assassins
Image source: gamerevolution.com
The Spanish assassins spent much of their time to turn Christian monarchs against the Templars. They played a huge role in the Granada war and saved many civilian lives and put an end to that war.
Templar Order
Image source: Yulia Petrova
The Assassins Brotherhood is the sworn enemies of the Templar Order. They work in direct conflict to the Assassins and seek to create a perfect world. Prior names they were known by includes Order of the Ancients, and Children of Cain before they became Order of the Knights Templar and others…
FAQ On Assassin’S Creed Concept Art
Who creates Assassin’s Creed concept art?
We’re talking true artisans here. Teams of concept artists at Ubisoft craft these masterpieces.
They’re like history buffs crossed with tech wizards, weaving together eras gone by with futuristic digital art techniques. Each piece encapsulates a story, a character, an era, all before coders bring it to your console.
What’s the purpose of concept art in Assassin’s Creed?
Ah, the blueprint of gaming’s soul. Concept art in Assassin’s Creed serves as the visual foundation. It shapes the historical settings in games, character personas, and the entire mood of a scene.
It’s the stage where the creative process in game design begins, guiding everything from modeling to the final render.
How does Ubisoft ensure historical accuracy in the concept art?
It’s a deep dive into the annals of history. Ubisoft’s artists and researchers team up to dissect historical eras down to the buttons on a doublet. From Renaissance Italy to Ancient Egypt, accuracy is key—ensuring the game art creation feels like a living, breathing time capsule.
Can fans contribute to Assassin’s Creed concept art?
A nod to the creative spirit! Yes, fan art thrives in the Assassin’s Creed community.
While not official, Ubisoft acknowledges and sometimes showcases outstanding fan-created art, celebrating the Assassin’s Creed artbook that keeps expanding beyond their studios, thanks to passionate players turned artists.
Where can I find the concept art for Assassin’s Creed?
Ready for a visual feast? Ubisoft often releases this treasure in artbooks and deluxe editions. Online, check out AC art galleries and the official Ubisoft website.
Digital concept paintings and AC storyboard art are often featured at gaming conventions and in special collector’s releases for the real enthusiasts.
How does concept art affect the development of Assassin’s Creed games?
Like a compass for the entire journey. Game character renderings and environmental design AC direct the developers, influencing gameplay mechanics to animation.
It’s the game’s first impression—the raw, artistic intent that becomes the lodestar for every line of code in the Assassin’s Creed game franchise.
Is there a difference between concept art and promotional art in Assassin’s Creed?
Chalk and cheese, in the art world. Concept art is the game’s embryonic stage—raw, rough-edged, purely for internal development. Promotional art is the polished, public face.
Think of it as the difference between AC game aesthetics brainstorm session sketches and the slick wallpapers you’d set as your background.
How has Assassin’s Creed concept art evolved over the years?
A journey in style and technology. With each title, concept art has matured, hand-in-hand with advancements in digital art techniques and gaming visual storytelling.
From the clarity of line in AC’s early days to the lush, almost tangible atmospheres in the latest releases, just wow!
What tools do artists use to create Assassin’s Creed concept art?
It’s a digital atelier! Artists wield powerful software like Photoshop and 3D modeling tools, employing tablets and styluses as their swords.
They craft digital paintings infused with reality and imagination, blending artistic talent with cutting-edge technology for those game design sketches we adore.
How can studying Assassin’s Creed concept art help aspiring game artists?
It’s practically a masterclass. Dissecting Ubisoft’s artwork offers insight into the creative process in game design.
Studying character renderings or environmental design AC gives aspirants a window into combining narrative, design aesthetics, and the practical needs of game development—an art and a science.
Conclusion
So, we’ve zipped through the labyrinth that is Assassin’s Creed concept art, a realm where historical accuracy gets a high-five from innovation.
- Drawing curtains on this escapade, remember the artists: hidden alchemists turning coffee into breathtaking sketches.
- Behind every leap from a digital rooftop, there’s a storyboard whispering the secrets of parkour in Renaissance Italy.
Every brush stroke tells a story, not just in the rolling hills of some ancient landscape, but in the very essence of game design sketches and digital concept paintings. This art sets the heart racing, pulses the adrenaline—you can almost taste the pixel-perfect air of Jerusalem.
Take it from someone who’s seen their fair share of pixels and palettes: this is more than game character renderings—it’s Ubisoft unraveling time’s tightly knit tapestry. Leaving you with a final thought, if we’re talking about the riches of video game illustrations and the stories they tell, then folks, Assassin’s Creed’s tapestry is one heck of an opulent loom.
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