In-Depth with Quentin Otani

Quentin Otani's Astraía winning model of our Portrait From the Future challenge that we ran with Sketchfab. When he's not blowing our minds with futuristic models, he's working on a host of other mesmerizing 3D projects that we can't wait to see as holograms in his newly-won Looking Glass Portrait.

- Stephen

Hi Quentin! Tell us a bit about yourself, where you're from, and what you do?

Hi! I'm Quentin Otani, I live in Paris, France, I'm a 3D graphic designer at Orbis Holographics.

How did you get into 3D modeling?

I started 3d during my Architecture studies, I was using it at the beginning to help me think from a different angle, I was just using Sketchup at the time. And then one day, one of my friends showed me a video that still remains among my favorites, "The Third & The Seventh " by Alex Roman

The Third & The Seventh from Alex Roman on Vimeo.

Even after 11 years, I still find this video amazing, and it's the one that made me really want to start 3D. So I started to do 3d to represent my architecture projects, and I learned to use blender to make my first renders, nothing incredible.

But it made me want to go further, especially since we had very few 3D courses in my school

When I got my architecture degree, I decided to change my path, and I did 3 years in a 3D school in Paris which taught me some general 3D basics

I was able to do a few internships in parallel et Voila! I've been working in this field for 2 years now and I love it!

You said you model with 3ds max and you also used Substance Painter, and V-ray to make Astraía. Are there any other 3D tools you like to use?

In my 3d school, I mostly learned to use 3ds Max so it's the software I use the most and I learned to use Vray during one of my internship and I still use it for the moment

But I love learning new softwares, so for sculpting I use Zbrush, for clothing I use Marvelous Designer, for materials I usually use Substance Painter/Designer, and right now I really like to use Tyflow, a great 3ds Max plugin that allows you to do so many things, and that I used when modeling Astraía for the fractures and the metal mesh.

Lately, I've also been trying my hand at augmented reality using Spark AR and Lens Studio.

I find it quite fun to use too, and I'll probably do more of it in the future. In short, I like to use many techniques in 3D and I try to always keep learning!

What are you most excited to make with your Looking Glass Portrait?

I'm so excited to get the Looking Glass!

Having seen one last year, I think it really stands out, it looks very lively and I love the animated models in it, and that's why I would love to try to make an aquarium / vivarium, or a miniature city, to put on my desk

What's your favorite hologram from sci-fi films/books/shows?

I don't know if I really have a favorite hologram, but I remember well this scene from Iron Man:

I really like to see how Tony Stark is able to interact with the holograms, how they take place in the scene and around him, how they are really part of his world.

What do you think the future will actually look like 50 years from now?

Maybe civilization on Mars will start, huge advances on transhumanism and artificial intelligence, and I hope we will have changed our way of life enough to save our planet, or that our technologies will allow us to catch up with our bullshit.

As for me, I will have stopped 3d, and I will live in the countryside, and I will raise llamas.

Is there anything you’ve been working on recently — either as a hobby / part of your work that you’d like to share?

Yes, lately, I've been inspired by Quentin Lengele's work, especially his Orbs.

It made me want to try to reproduce the atmosphere of one of my favorite districts in Tokyo, and to try to give as much life as possible in 3D. It was really cool to do, and I would love to try to work on a lighter version to test it in my future Looking Glass!

Anything else to share? A random fun fact about yourself? Something fun!

Hmm, before the covid, I played tuba in a brass band?

Otherwise, you can follow me on Instagram or on Artstation.

Thank you!