3D Animated Character - Giga Bear for Giga Mobiili

Angry bear? Happy customers. Meet Giga Bear — a grumpy, ultra-expressive 3D animated character created to embody everything we love (and hate) about mobile operators. This unforgettable mascot brings high-resolution print visuals and snappy animation together to fight telecom nonsense with pure furry attitude.

3D ANIMATED CHARACTER: PROJECT OVERVIEW

We teamed up with Publicis Nordic and Giga Mobiili to create the brand’s new face — or snarl. Giga Bear captures how people really feel about confusing contracts, hidden fees, and customer service letdowns. Their frustration is justified, and that’s why it works.

Our task? Craft a full 3D character asset package that could live across Giga’s TV, print, social media, and digital platforms. The result is a fully rigged, production-ready character with extremely expressive facial features, physically reactive fur, and a flexible design for future campaigns.

Client

Giga Mobiili

Agency

Publicis Nordic

DESIGN PROCESS: 3D ANIMATED CHARACTER

Initial design sketch document showing how the Giga Bear character starts taking shape.
Character design sketch sheet with various iterations of the Giga Bear character - an image from the case study - Animated Character Commercial, Giga Bear, by Brink Helsinki

Every iconic character animation project begins with a solid foundation in character design. The agency provided us with a clear initial character design document. Our job was to refine the design, producing our bear character: compact, teddy-proportioned, and deeply annoyed. The design had to avoid cuteness while keeping it relatable and iconic.

A final character design sheet with expression drawings for Giga Bear - from our case study for 3D Animated Characters.

Collaboration between the agency, director, and our character artists was key. Together, we refined the concept into something that felt plush but not toy-like, grumpy but not off-putting. This stage is fast, fun & visual! 

TURNAROUNDS FOR 3D ANIMATED CHARACTER

A turnaround drawing sheet, where our Giga Bear character is drawn from multiple angles, to aid in the 3D modelling process.

We built detailed turnaround sheets from the final sketches. These blueprints helped our modeling and rigging teams achieve perfect 3D character fidelity.

PRE-PRODUCTION FOR 3D ANIMATED CHARACTER: STORYBOARDS

Even while the design phase was in full swing, we mapped out storyboards for hero animations. Since many scenes involved exaggerated emotional beats, timing and blocking were especially important early on. Below are a few storyboard samples illustrating the dynamic poses and action points we developed.

Storyboard panels from the Giga Bear Character Animation production.
Storyboard panels from the Giga Bear Character Animation production.
Storyboard panels from the Giga Bear Character Animation production.
Storyboard panels from the Giga Bear Character Animation production.
Storyboard panels from the Giga Bear Character Animation production.

ANIMATIC PRODUCTION

As part of our typical 3D character animation pipeline, we created an animatic for Giga Bear early in the pre-production phase. Built from storyboard frames, the animatic gave us and the client a clear sense of timing, rhythm, and emotional pacing. We refined it through feedback rounds, using it as a guiding blueprint for the final animation.

3D ANIMATED CHARACTER - 3D MODELING

Following character design approval, we transitioned into modeling. This phase involved meticulous digital sculpting to ensure Giga Bear’s proportions, posture, and fur-ready topology matched the original concept while supporting later rigging and grooming work.

A 3D render of the basic model for Giga Bear character.
A 3D render of the basic model for Giga Bear character.

PREVISUALIZATION IN A PRODUCTION WITH 3D ANIMATED CHARACTER

Before committing to final renders, we developed previz versions of all hero scenes with complete character animation. This let us iterate camera moves, action cues, and expression timing with the agency team. It also streamlined approvals across the board.

3D ANIMATED CHARACTER - LOOK DEVELOPMENT

In the look development phase, Giga Bear gained his signature feel. We groomed a rich, responsive fur system, tuned his expressive eyes, and built a mouth rig for snarls, smirks, and sighs. Warm lighting and stylized shading brought out texture and attitude, making sure Giga looked great on any background.

A look development image from the Giga Bear case study: 3D Animated Characters
A look development image from the Giga Bear case study: 3D Animated Characters
A look development image from the Giga Bear case study: 3D Animated Characters
A look development image from the Giga Bear case study: 3D Animated Characters
A look development image from the Giga Bear case study: 3D Animated Characters
A look development image from the Giga Bear case study: 3D Animated Characters
A look development image from the Giga Bear case study: 3D Animated Characters

FINAL STILL IMAGES

For Giga’s print campaigns, we produced high-resolution stills that captured the bear in all his expressive glory. Snarls, side-eyes, and clever-but-grumpy satisfaction all featured prominently. The fur was rendered with extreme detail to deliver that final emotional punch.

A high resolution still image from the Giga Bear 3D Animated Character production by Brink Helsinki - featuring a furry 3D bear character.
A high resolution still image from the Giga Bear 3D Animated Character production by Brink Helsinki - featuring a furry 3D bear character.
A high resolution still image from the Giga Bear production by Brink Helsinki - featuring a furry 3D bear character.
A close up image of a high resolution still render from the Giga Bear production by Brink Helsinki - featuring a furry 3D bear character.
A high resolution still image from the Giga Bear 3D Animated Character production by Brink Helsinki - featuring a furry 3D bear character.
A high resolution still image from the Giga Bear 3D Animated Character production by Brink Helsinki - featuring a furry 3D bear character.

FINAL 3D ANIMATED CHARACTER

Giga Bear is alive! Once assets were approved, we rendered a selection of hero animations in multiple durations. We also delivered layered versions for flexible editing. Lastly, compositing and color grading gave Giga Bear the exact finish needed for both broadcast and digital delivery.

MORE CHARACTER DESIGN, ANIMATION AND ATTITUDE?

Want to see another expressive brand mascot brought to life? Check out our more laid-back-character animation for Panda! If you’re more into traditional frame-by-frame work, check out K-Citymarket Kalakaverit Remix or Veikkaus Herkkuzoot — full of quirky personality, no 3D fur required!

Do you need charming animated characters in your production?
Please don’t hesitate to contact us:

Molla Karjaluoto, Executive Producer, Brink Helsinki Oy

Molla Karjaluoto
Executive Producer
+358 40 776 0108
molla@brinkhelsinki.com

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