The Exodite has arrived. A brand new animation exclusive to Warhammer+, it follows the T’au Fire Warrior Lako’ma, a newly promoted Shas’Vre attempting to prevent the doom of a T’au colony expedition.
You’ll have seen its stunning trailer, but with the first episode here, we caught up with the animators to find out what it takes to make such a stunning show. We’ll be taking more looks behind the scenes next week as this fantastic new series continues.
The Exodite looks amazing! How much work was it to produce something that looks this good?
It is certainly an undertaking! We have artists across nine different countries and four time zones, which is a challenge, but it essentially allows us to work around the clock.
Creatively, we are always trying to push the envelope. We are all long-time fans of Warhammer 40,000, so we always want to go the extra mile. We are meticulous with the details, and it's incredible to get a chance to recreate so many things that have only ever existed on the page and in our minds. There are plenty of little details that fans of the setting will pick up on.
How did you arrive at the show's visual style?
We were aiming for something close to a realistic portrayal of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. In their art, lore and miniatures, the T'au have more of an emphasis on "modern" combat than a lot of other Warhammer 40,000 factions. We knew we would have big battle moments – on the ground and in space – but that would be balanced with smaller moments with the Stealth Team.
How did you develop The Exodite’s visual identity?
It was really collaborative. We originally started using existing artwork and miniatures – some recent and some older – as reference, but after we got involved with the team at Games Workshop, we received designs and reference material directly from the Warhammer Studio to help develop the various characters, weapons, and vehicles in the show.
We were even able to include a few of the old XV15 Stealth Suits alongside the more modern XV25s familiar to fans today. We shared lots of colour keys, texture and lighting examples, and concepts, and discussed everything from the designs on the floor in the hangar decks to the atmospheric conditions on the planet below. All these layers gradually fell into place to get the full effect we see on-screen.
The quality of the show's animation really stands out. What was your approach here?
We used the Unreal Engine and programs like Blender and the Xsens to punch above our weight class – and we also have passionate people working for us who are always striving to make it a bit better and more dynamic.
How did you approach the different characters?
The way each character moves has its nuances and speaks to the personalities of that character. For example, Lako'ma has just been promoted after her predecessor fell in battle. She has a lot to prove to herself, her kin, and the Ethereal, and her performance reflects that. The rest of the team are relatively young, and their interactions convey their optimistic, bordering on naive, worldview.
Finally, how do you feel about the fact that The Exodite is about to be watched by Warhammer fans around the world?
It's been a fantastic journey. We are so thrilled to have it out in the world for fans to enjoy, to help further the narrative for the T’au Empire, and to show the first Exodite ever in action on-screen!
You can check out The Exodite over on Warhammer TV right now.
That’s not all that’s on offer this week – brains and brawn clash the Mortal Realms in a Battle Report which pits the martial forces of the Lumineth Realm-lords against the savage Ironjawz Orruks.
Over in the Warhammer Vault, you’ll be able to continue reading up on the explosive End Times with Rise of the Horned Rat, and treat yourself to the issues 383-385 from the White Dwarf back catalogue.
As ever, you can access all this and more by subscribing to Warhammer+, which will also grant you access to exclusive offers, competitions, and much, much more!
