In this tutorial, mograph veteran Aharon Rabinowitz shows you how to recreate the Disney+ animated Star Wars logo using Unreal Engine.
We’ll look at how to import 3D models, set up lighting, build materials, and animate it, all right inside of Unreal. Then we’ll render it out and bring it all together in After Effects (or any video editor of your choice).
This is the way!
Don’t forget to download the project files below and follow along!
Dive into real-time 3D with our Unreal Engine beginner's course by Jonathan Winbush. Master importing assets, world-building, animation, and cinematic sequences to create stunning 3D renders in no time! Perfect for motion designers ready to level up.
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Unlock the secrets of character design in this dynamic course! Explore shape language, anatomy rules, and motifs to craft animation-ready characters. Gain drawing tips, hacks, and Procreate mastery (or any drawing app). Ideal for artists seeking to elevate their craft.
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Elevate your freelance motion design career with our guide to client success. Master a repeatable method for finding, contacting, and landing clients. Learn to identify prospects, nurture leads, and develop a thriving freelance philosophy amidst chaos.
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Rev up your editing skills with After Effects! Learn to use it for everyday needs and craft dynamic templates (Mogrts) for smarter teamwork. You'll master creating animated graphics, removing unwanted elements, tracking graphics, and making customizable templates.
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Stand out with Demo Reel Dash! Learn to spotlight your best work and market your unique brand of magic. By the end, you'll have a brand new demo reel and a custom campaign to showcase yourself to an audience aligned with your career goals.
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Illuminate your 3D skills with Lights, Camera, Render! Dive deep into advanced Cinema 4D techniques with David Ariew. Master core cinematography skills, gain valuable assets, and learn tools and best practices to create stunning work that wows clients.
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Master After Effects at your own pace with Jake Bartlett's beginner course. Perfect for video editors, you'll learn to create stylish animated graphics, remove unwanted elements, and track graphics into shots. By the end, you'll be equipped for everyday AE needs and more.
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Revolutionize your Premiere workflow with customizable AE templates! Master creating dynamic Motion Graphics Templates (Mogrts) in After Effects to speed up your team's work. By the end, you'll craft easily-customizable templates for seamless use in Premiere Pro.
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Watch the full tutorial (it's worth it!) but here's the cliff notes:
⚙️ Project Setup & Materials
Start your Unreal Engine project with ray tracing and import your 3D models. Dive into creating materials, from a glowing neon light for a futuristic look to a reflective metal material for added realism.
💡 Lighting, Reflections & Animation
Enhance your scene with path tracing for realistic reflections and advanced lighting techniques. Animate your objects and environment with linear keyframes for smooth movements and dynamic lighting effects.
🧱 Material & Scene Animation
Add depth to your animations by manipulating material properties for fading effects and glowing intensity. Adapt your project elements to fit new scenes, like a Darth Vader-themed animation, for creative flexibility.
🎬 Final Touches & Post-Production
Fine-tune your animation with camera adjustments and keyframe tweaks. Render your project with optimal settings, then polish it in After Effects with layering, color correction, and glow effects for a professional finish.
Want to dive deeper? Check out Unreal Engine for 3D Artists, our self-paced course that'll get you movin' in Unreal .
Not sure where to start?
If you’re a beginner, here are some great courses to help you get started:
After Effects Kickstart
Dive into the fundamentals of motion design with our most popular (and recently updated) After Effects course.
Photoshop + Illustrator Unleashed
Master the basics of Photoshop and Illustrator and gain invaluable insights in this introductory level course.
Design Kickstart
An introduction to the design principles behind all great work.
More Advanced?
If you’re a more advanced student looking to up your game, here are some great options:
Animation Bootcamp
Learn the art and principles of creating beautiful movements in Adobe After Effects.
Design Bootcamp
Learn to design for motion in this intermediate-level, project-based course.
Cinema 4D Basecamp
Learn Cinema 4D from the ground up in this exciting introductory C4D course.
Now is the time to learn the skills you need to advance in your motion design career:
