Sunway University lecturer expresses creativity through Space Animation Movie

Sunway University Lecturer, Asmadi Jusoh from the School of Creative Arts and Communication (SCAC) will be showcasing his talent in Re-entry, the first space animation movie to be made locally. Contributing ideas in architectures and 3-D designs, Asmadi will join 6 other colleagues including Norul Rafidi, who oversees this project in making this space adventure thriller animation that will depict human life making their way to space in 50 years from now.

Asmadi who hails from Terengganu has a Bachelor of Science in Housing, Building and Planning and a Bachelor of Architecture from University Sains Malaysia, Penang. Asmadi started working as an architect and then proceeded to University Tun Abdul Razak where he spent 2 years as a part time lecturer before joining Sunway University. He also took up the Unitar Multimedia Coursewave, a twinning programme with an MSC company from India.

Asmadi with his architecture and 3-D design that will be featured in the space animation movie, Re-entry.

Asmadi who has a collection of figurines from the popular Manga series Naruto and Gundam, said, “I have always had the passion to do 3D and Animation. Therefore I took an interest in learning software programmes such as 3D Max and AutoCAD among other programmes”.

This project came about when Norul Rafidi was introduced to Patrick Collins, a space programme professor at Azabu University Sagamihara City in Japan, by his brother Norul Ridzuan, the founder and president of Space Tourism Society (STS) Malaysia Chapter. Patrick Collins was trying to spread the idea of space tourism and life in space through his comic book in Japanese and he was interested to turn that into an animated movie. Norul Rafidi had a team of animators including Asmadi that possessed different skills and expertise that would benefit this project. The rest was history.

Asmadi’s contribution to the project varies from the design of the space craft, vertical takeoff and landing (VITOL), weapons, cockpit and hotel. “I’ve made a cylindrical design of the space hotel that has the characteristics of a Rafflesia flower unique to Malaysia. The cylindrical design rotates and will give everyone an equal opportunity to have a window view of space”, he quipped.

The animators are currently in the final stage of completing the trailer for Re-entry that will be presented at the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) conference from Oct 17-19 in Paris, France. The trailer will also be presented to representatives for Nasa, ESA and Japan Aerospace Agency (Jaxa).