Add character production pipeline and video tooling notes

.gitignore

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+# Unity generated folders
+/Library/
+/Temp/
+/Logs/
+/UserSettings/
+/MemoryCaptures/
+/Recordings/
+
+# Local OS/editor files
+.DS_Store
+*.swp
+*.swo
+
+# Local analysis outputs
+/local-evidence/

docs/character/2d-to-3d-character-workflow.md

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+# 2D To 3D Character Workflow
+
+Status: production workflow note for using 2D concept images as the starting
+point for Meshy/Maya/engine character creation.
+
+## Direct Answer
+
+Maya should not be treated as a one-click "2D character image to commercial 3D
+game character" converter.
+
+What Maya can do well:
+
+- place 2D concept art as image planes for modeling reference
+- trace silhouettes or hard-surface motifs into curves
+- extrude flat logos, shields, blades, reliefs, and symbols from curves
+- use height/displacement/normal-style images for surface relief
+- clean, retopo, UV, rig, skin, pose-test, and export the resulting model
+
+What should use AI/Meshy first:
+
+- rough 3D shape from one concept image
+- better rough 3D shape from multiple concept views
+- early comparison of several silhouettes before manual cleanup
+
+What must still be done by hand or at least human-reviewed:
+
+- top-down silhouette judgement
+- production topology around shoulders, elbows, knees, hands, cloth, and weapon
+- UV layout and material separation
+- skin weights
+- attack animation timing
+- game-camera readability
+- legal/IP similarity review
+
+## Practical Route For This Project
+
+Use 2D images as a gate before any paid 3D generation.
+
+1. Create 2D concept sheets for 3 hero candidates:
+   - `H07 White-Charcoal Judgement Axe`
+   - `H02 Black-Iron Pincer Knight`
+   - `H08 Navy-Lantern Threadbinder`
+2. Each sheet must include:
+   - black silhouette strip
+   - front view
+   - back view
+   - side or 3/4 view
+   - top-down gameplay readability crop
+   - weapon close-up
+   - material/value swatches
+   - explicit reject notes
+3. Run a 64-128 px thumbnail test before 3D generation.
+4. Use Meshy Image-to-3D or Multi-Image-to-3D for preview only.
+5. Bring the preview into Maya.
+6. Clean the mesh, split parts, fix weapon thickness, and verify top-down shape.
+7. Only then spend on refine, texture, rig, animation, or engine import.
+
+## 2D Sheet Requirements
+
+Every candidate sheet must answer these questions without text labels:
+
+- Which direction is the character facing?
+- What is the weapon?
+- What is the class fantasy?
+- Where is the head?
+- Where are the shoulders?
+- What one shape makes this character different from any other dark knight?
+- Does the silhouette survive when reduced to 96 px tall?
+
+If the answer is unclear, do not generate 3D.
+
+## Candidate 2D Prompts
+
+These prompts are for creating 2D concept sheets. They are intentionally not
+final game art prompts.
+
+### H07 White-Charcoal Judgement Axe
+
+```text
+dark fantasy top-down ARPG playable hero concept sheet, white-charcoal
+execution axe warrior, one oversized arm, one huge one-sided axe head wider
+than the shoulders, charcoal black body, white ash cracks, dark red cloth,
+clear black silhouette strip, front view, back view, side view, top-down
+gameplay readability crop, weapon close-up, material swatches, practical game
+character design, readable at small size
+```
+
+Reject:
+
+```text
+no generic barbarian, no viking helmet, no tiny axe, no realistic bodybuilder,
+no gore, no huge fur cloak, no unreadable black blob, no excessive ornamental
+detail
+```
+
+### H02 Black-Iron Pincer Knight
+
+```text
+dark fantasy top-down ARPG playable hero concept sheet, asymmetric black-iron
+pincer knight, one huge shoulder pincer silhouette, one-handed great shears
+weapon, short shield blade, rust red cloth, pale scar edge lines, clear black
+silhouette strip, front view, back view, side view, top-down gameplay
+readability crop, weapon close-up, material swatches, practical game character
+design, readable at small size
+```
+
+Reject:
+
+```text
+no literal crab body, no robot armor, no tiny scissors, no hidden weapon, no
+long cape covering legs, no excessive spikes, no merged hands, no extra arms,
+no gore
+```
+
+### H08 Navy-Lantern Threadbinder
+
+```text
+dark fantasy top-down ARPG playable hero concept sheet, navy-lantern
+threadbinder, small pale lantern floating above the head, black lacquer armor,
+dark navy cloth, visible thick magical thread loops around the hands, compact
+body silhouette, fingertip blade shapes, clear black silhouette strip, front
+view, back view, side view, top-down gameplay readability crop, material
+swatches, practical game character design, readable at small size
+```
+
+Reject:
+
+```text
+no puppet master cliche, no thin invisible threads, no dolls, no anime school
+outfit, no cyber wires, no wings, no face-detail focus, no huge robe blob
+```
+
+## Maya Use Cases By Asset Type
+
+| Asset Type | Best 2D Input | Maya Method | Meshy Useful? |
+| --- | --- | --- | --- |
+| Player hero | concept sheet with multiple views | image planes, blockout, cleanup, retopo, rig, skin | yes, preview only |
+| Enemy fodder | concept sheet or strong silhouette | model over reference, simplify forms | yes |
+| Boss | front/top silhouette plus attack-shape sheet | blockout in simple masses first | limited; cleanup heavy |
+| Weapon | side view and top view | curve/mesh modeling, thickness pass | sometimes |
+| Shield/emblem | vector/black shape | curve/extrude/bevel | rarely needed |
+| Floor relief | grayscale height/ornament map | displacement/normal/mesh relief | not needed |
+| UI icon | flat concept/vector | keep 2D or vector; do not force 3D | no |
+
+## Preview Pass/Fail
+
+Pass:
+
+- 96 px grayscale still reads as the same role.
+- Weapon silhouette is obvious.
+- Character has one dominant hook, not five small hooks.
+- Head and shoulders are separable from cape/body.
+- The design can be modeled without relying on hair-thin details.
+
+Fail:
+
+- It only works as a full-resolution illustration.
+- The weapon disappears in top-down view.
+- The pose is doing all the work.
+- Materials are all the same dark value.
+- It depends on floating particles or VFX to identify the character.
+- It looks like a known commercial character, class skin, or franchise mascot.
+
+## First Batch Decision
+
+Run 2D concept exploration first, not 3D generation.
+
+Batch size:
+
+- 3 hero candidates
+- 2 variations each
+- 6 concept sheets total
+
+Pick one for Meshy preview only after this review:
+
+1. H07 if the goal is strongest melee impact.
+2. H02 if the goal is strongest dark-fantasy identity.
+3. H08 if the goal is novelty, accepting higher production risk.
+
+No refine/rig/animation spend until a 2D sheet passes the tiny-camera test.
+
+## Sources
+
+- Autodesk Maya Help: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/
+- Meshy Image to 3D API: https://docs.meshy.ai/en/api/image-to-3d
+- Meshy Multi-Image to 3D API: https://docs.meshy.ai/en/api/multi-image-to-3d
+- Meshy for Maya plugin: https://docs.meshy.ai/en/maya-plugin/introduction