Erebus the mask

Inspiration This project began with the desire to merge the physical world of sculpture with the cinematic language of fantasy and myth. The work of artist and designer Zakia Knouzi became the foundation—transforming handcrafted forms into living digital beings and expanding the universe of Erebus through a fusion of material, symbolism, and motion.

What it does The project brings a sculpture to life, turning a static artifact into a character with presence, identity, and movement. It bridges the gap between traditional craftsmanship and modern digital storytelling, allowing the mask and the body it represents to evolve into a full cinematic entity.

How we built it The process combined physical references, high-resolution photography, and multiple AI tools. Midjourney shaped the visual look, Kling handled animation, CapCut guided the editing flow, while Higgsfield and Nano Banana supported transitions and character construction. Each tool played a specific role in translating real textures and shapes into motion and narrative.

Challenges we ran into One of the main challenges was maintaining the integrity of the original sculpture while adapting it into a humanlike, cinematic form. Matching materials, preserving physical authenticity, blending metal textures into skin, and achieving seamless transitions required significant experimentation and refinement. Achieving a balance between the handcrafted and the digital was an ongoing artistic negotiation.

Accomplishments that we're proud of We succeeded in creating a coherent hybrid artwork, where a physical object transforms naturally into a digital character without losing its artistic essence. The project established a new workflow for merging sculpture and visual storytelling, allowing both worlds to elevate each other.

What we learned We learned how deeply physical textures influence digital realism, how essential lighting is when translating artifacts into CG forms, and how collaboration between creators and tools can reveal unexpected visual languages. The project taught us to honor the original craft while pushing it into new dimensions.

What's next for Erebus: The Mask The next steps involve expanding this transformation into a full cinematic sequence, deepening the lore of the Erebus universe, and continuing the fusion of real sculptures with digital mythology. More characters, more transitions, and a fully realized short film will follow as the world of Erebus continues to grow.

Built With

• capcut
• higgsfield
• kling
• midjourney
• nanobana
• openart
• suno