Bringing a Solar System to Life on a Budget
Launched on October 16, 2018, Starlink: Battle for Atlas marked Ubisoft Toronto’s first original IP, seamlessly blending creativity with the toys-to-life genre in a fresh and innovative way. Players explored a vibrant solar system filled with diverse planets, piloting fully customizable starships that could be enhanced through digital upgrades or physical toys-to-life models.
Innovation, however, comes with challenges.
Working with a small team required cost-effective strategies and efficiency. Through resourcefulness and thoughtful planning, we developed a workflow that empowered every department to deliver high-quality content the entire team was proud of.
During Animation Days 2018, I presented the key workflow strategies that shaped the game’s development and supported its on-time launch. Below, you’ll find narrated segments detailing the three core processes that propelled the game’s success.
Fail Fast, Fail Early
This approach focuses on promoting collaboration across departments and streamlining essential information to advance development efficiently.
The 3 R s
Discover the innovative strategies and effective techniques employed to optimize content coverage while utilizing minimal resources in Starlink: Battle for Atlas.
Cut the Fat
Discover how we streamlined our processes to reduce unnecessary work and dedicate our resources to improving the overall game experience.
Team Jurassic
Discover how the creative efforts of the small yet mighty team were guided on Starlink: Battle for Atlas.
With a team of just four animators tasked with delivering approximately 1,600 animation assets, establishing an efficient and sustainable workflow was crucial. By fostering a steady rhythm of deliberate, focused work, we found a way to tackle the challenge effectively and achieve remarkable results.
Published on March 7th, 2025.
Keep the Pilot Light On
Michelle was my animation lead when I first joined the industry at Ubisoft Toronto in 2016. She was faced with the very difficult task of having to manage a project with many challenges and limited staff. On top of that she also had 2 rookie animators on her team (myself being one!). I cannot over state just how much of a positive influence Michelle is as a leader.
Cody Drake
Senior Animator/Technical Animator