3D Artist Turned Concept Design Into Lifelike Bat Dragon Creature

This charming bat-dragon hybrid is the final portfolio piece Elias Weber completed during his last semester at Animationsinstitut, inspired by a concept art from Ognjen Sporin.

While most dragons are depicted as hybrids of reptiles and mammals, their wings are typically made after those of bats. Elias aimed to create an anatomically plausible dragon built primarily on bat physiology, and as he shared, exploring bat anatomy and movement turned out to be both fascinating and enjoyable. For the final design, Elias adapted the creature's form to feature a more recognizable, elongated dragon silhouette and stylized the head to a certain degree.

Elias brought this hybrid to life and showcased it using a combination of Maya, XGen, Arnold, Ragdoll Dynamics, ZBrush, Substance 3D Painter, Mari, Nuke, Marvelous Designer, and AdonisFX. Take a closer look below:

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