Forest Guardian Tiger
Collectible figure · Self-Initiated
Project Goal
Develop an imposing, highly-detailed collectible figure demonstrating hard-surface and organic sculpting. The piece combines a mythic tiger spirit with ancient armor for a striking display piece.
01. Concept
A mythic tiger spirit adorned with ancient armor. The sketch focused on the aggressive stance and the cultural motifs on the armor plating. We refined the silhouette and detail level to suit both display impact and manufacturability.
02. 3D Sculpt
Digital sculpting was done in ZBrush. We emphasized the fur texture flowing naturally into the rigid metallic armor elements. Proportions were exaggerated slightly for a dramatic silhouette while keeping the model feasible for molding.
03. Prototype & Production Notes
The prototype was SLA 3D printed in high-toughness resin. The figure stands at 8 inches tall. Complex undercuts required a 12-part separation strategy for seamless mold making. This case study illustrates Popinker’s art toy development process from concept to production-ready prototype.
