GDC 2025 Session Viewer
Animation Summit: Animating Leaders in 'Civilization VII': A Case Study
Chandrahas Tanguturi (Animator, Firaxis Games)
Rue Taylor (Narrative Designer, Firaxis Games)
Keenan Nishi-Manely (Diplomacy Art Lead, Firaxis Games)
Pass Type: All Access Pass, Summits Pass - Get your pass now!
Track: Visual Arts
Format: Lecture
Vault Recording: TBD
Audience Level: All
Leaders have always been a core element of the Civilization series. They are the faces of history who engage with, and react to, the stories players create as they build new empires one turn at a time.
In this session, an interdisciplinary panel will walk through the process of animating leaders for Sid Meier's Civilization VII, using the Shawnee leader Tecumseh as a case study. We will discuss processes and methods of interdepartmental collaboration that successfully guided us from concept to completion, as well as Firaxis' partnership with the Shawnee Tribe that was critical to bringing the historical figure of Tecumseh to life.
Takeaway
This talk will offer insight into practices for successful interdisciplinary work and lessons learned throughout the animation development process. Additionally, methods will be shared for balancing historical integrity with creative design and gameplay that are relevant not only in the 4X space, but for any game drawing inspiration from history.
Intended Audience
The target audience is mid- to senior level developers in disciplines including animation, narrative and outsourcing. The talk is also intended for anyone interested in incorporating history into games.