Shumka x Buffalo Buffalo: Re:Rite

Shumka x Buffalo Buffalo: Re:Rite is an industry innovation project co-led by independent game studio Buffalo Buffalo and Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU). The project supports animation system development for Buffalo Buffalo’s newest 3D isometric fighting game, which builds on the production of a 1–4 player PvP evolution brawler currently in development.

Between January 2026 to January 2027, a recent graduate from ECU’s Bachelor of Media Arts (BMA) program joins the Buffalo Buffalo team as a 3D animation intern, contributing to the development of modular animation systems and character motion assets.

The project explores how flexible animation frameworks can support characters with diverse body structures and movement styles—such as bipedal, hovering, and quadrupedal forms—while maintaining clear gameplay readability within a fixed isometric camera view. Working within Buffalo Buffalo’s Unity-based development pipeline, the intern collaborates with the studio’s art and development teams to design animation assets that integrate seamlessly into real-time gameplay systems.

The collaboration focuses on developing reusable animation workflows that support expressive character motion while remaining efficient for production. Through research, prototyping, testing, and iteration, the work contributes to Buffalo Buffalo’s evolving animation pipeline and the studio’s ongoing development of gameplay systems that balance technical performance with strong visual expression.

​Project Objectives

The project aims to develop and refine animation systems that enhance gameplay clarity, character expression, and production efficiency.

Key objectives include:

• Research modular animation systems compatible with diverse character rigs and movement styles.
• Prototype animation assets for bipedal, hovering, and quadrupedal characters designed for an isometric gameplay environment.
• Create modular animations—including locomotion, combat, and attack sequences—using Autodesk Maya.
• Implement and test animation assets within Unity’s real-time animation system, including animation blending and controller structures.
• Explore procedural animation techniques such as motion blending and inverse kinematics to support fluid transitions between character states.
• Collaborate with Buffalo Buffalo’s art and development teams to refine animation pipelines and ensure consistency across rigs.
• Produce technical and process documentation outlining animation workflows, asset structures, and integration strategies.

Project Team

Cemre Demiralp – Academic Supervisor, Emily Carr University
Priyanka Poulose – Co-Supervisor, Emily Carr University
Zara Rodrigues – Intern, Emily Carr University (Jun 2026 – Mar 2027)
Tristan Wei – Intern, Emily Carr University (Jan – May 2026)
Charlotte Guan – Industry Supervisor, Buffalo Buffalo

This project is generously supported by the Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (BSI) program and facilitated by ECU’s Shumka Centre for Creative Entrepreneurship.