LAVA BED BATS

Lava Bed Bats is a sci-fi animated short produced at the Maryland Institute College of Art in collaboration with scientists at NASA's Goddard Research Center. It explores two lunar astro bats who discover a cult below lava bed tubes underneath the moon.

Made in 2.5 months, it marked as a highly collaborative project between artists and scientific researchers..

production journal link: https://lavabedbats.tumblr.com/

Final Film
co-created by MICA illustration alumni, Celine Krempp

Original Pitch Animatic
created for NASA Goddard's approval

Character Model Sheets
designs by me and colors by Celine Krempp

Wise One (Wilfred Noitall) Color Model

Wilfred is the leader of the Lava Bed Bats. He lures visitors on the moon in a welcoming tone, but then tricks them into getting consumed by the moonstone to harness into fresh molten lava. Inspired by the Goblin King from Labyrinth.

Elliot Color Model

One of the astro-bats sent to the moon for exploration, he is the shorter and more responsible member of the duo.

Gerry Color Model

The taller member of the astro-duo, he mostly abides by his partner's choices and sticks closely side by side in case of any danger.

Cult Member Color Model

The lava bed bat children were meant to have the exact same design so neither one of them would stick out from one another compared to the Wise One. Celine and I settled on a mix between the third cloak color and the fourth skin color since they fit better in contrast.

Ascendence Color Model

This character was intended as the original lava bed bat that spawned her giant race of children, but we scrapped her half-way through production when we changed up the storyline and we were running out of time.

Concept Art

Pre-Production Layout

The first rough layout for the the moon's lunar cave. Drawn before any animation even started.

Early Bat Drawings

Early development sketches of the two lead bats.

The 3rd Bat

Prior to animating the film, there was one extra astro bat who had to be removed to save on time & resources.

Conceived by Austin Kauffman

Cave Bat Sketch

A rough scenario for what kind of crevice in the moon the lava bed bats could be worshipping.

Enter the Cave

This image visually established the beginning of our leads inside the strange lava bed tube.

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Moonstone Arena

Celine's earliest rendition of the arena securing the moonstone. The final layout only resembles mere elements from this drawing.

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Moonstone Design

Designed & stylized by Celine Krempp

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Lava Textures

Celine's conceptual design for how the lava could look.

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The 3rd Astro Bat

Prior to animating the film, there was one extra astro bat scientist that had to be cut out to save on time and resources.

Conceived by Austin Kauffman