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Borderlands 3 Mantakore Concepts

This was a very long challenging journey working on this creature which was originally called the Nekrobug. The premise was to have two totally different looking creatures combine into a third also totally different looking creature. Initially it was supposed to be insectiod, but midway through working on it it was decided that we needed something more alien and very WTF. I hope people have fun shooting all these weird babs.
Thank you Gearbox creature team for breaking my brain and pushing me out of my comfort zone, and Kevin Duc and Scott Kester for the feedback! Brett Briley made the in game model, it looks awesome!
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Final Mantakore design! WIPs and development notes below.

Final Mantakore design! WIPs and development notes below.

Early explorations for a dangerous insectiod mantis alien

Early explorations for a dangerous insectiod mantis alien

starting to consider the combination aspect

starting to consider the combination aspect

another round of combination ideas for the designers to review

another round of combination ideas for the designers to review

Another round of design pitches for creature team. There were a lot of technical concerns with these.

Another round of design pitches for creature team. There were a lot of technical concerns with these.

At some point, I was asked to focus specifically on the flying form.

At some point, I was asked to focus specifically on the flying form.

Then I went back to more combination ideas, since design wasn't yet happy with the early ones. My concept lead asked me to try a scorpion look for the X

Then I went back to more combination ideas, since design wasn't yet happy with the early ones. My concept lead asked me to try a scorpion look for the X

So at this point I got the very high level feedback that actually, this thing should not be insectoid since we already had the Varkids and Spiderants in the game. I think this was a really good call, but it meant I had to start over.

So at this point I got the very high level feedback that actually, this thing should not be insectoid since we already had the Varkids and Spiderants in the game. I think this was a really good call, but it meant I had to start over.

Explorations for the apex predator Z look and reverse engineering X and Y off of that. I thought of the name Mantakore which helped everyone move away from the insect thing conceptually.

Explorations for the apex predator Z look and reverse engineering X and Y off of that. I thought of the name Mantakore which helped everyone move away from the insect thing conceptually.

Finally I drew up these detailed drawings of all 3 forms and presented them to design and animation, who were happy with the look and signed off that the transformation would work and not cause technical issues. And there was much rejoicing.

Finally I drew up these detailed drawings of all 3 forms and presented them to design and animation, who were happy with the look and signed off that the transformation would work and not cause technical issues. And there was much rejoicing.

Breakdowns for the Manta (X) and Korax (Y)

Breakdowns for the Manta (X) and Korax (Y)

Side view breakdowns and notes for all 3 forms

Side view breakdowns and notes for all 3 forms

Breakdowns for the combined Mantakore

Breakdowns for the combined Mantakore

pose idea for the Manta and some explorations for the hidden flower face of the Korax

pose idea for the Manta and some explorations for the hidden flower face of the Korax

a nasty bomb that that the Korax barfs at the player

a nasty bomb that that the Korax barfs at the player

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