From first sketch to final pixel – by hand.
From first sketch to final pixel – by hand.
The Ropter is an independent vehicle concept inspired by the iconic Batmobile – aggressive automotive proportions meet stealth-fighter architecture. What began as a single sketch grew into a fully animated short film and, finally, a physical collectible. Created with hand sketching, Blender, Unreal Engine and DaVinci Resolve.
It all began in the winter of 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking for a new creative outlet, I decided to teach myself 3D modeling and 3D animation. Driven by a lifelong passion for Batman, I set out to design a concept car—one inspired by iconic superhero aesthetics, yet entirely distinct in its own right.
What started as 2D sketches quickly evolved into a fully detailed 3D model. Soon, the ambition grew: why not build a full storyboard around it? Through a hands-on, learning-by-doing process, I picked up Unreal Engine and began animating the sequence.
As the months turned into years of designing and skill-building, the project became much bigger than a solo passion piece. Two talented friends joined the journey – Moritz Melber on sound design and Patrick Kuhn Botelho on the score. Together, we turned a personal learning experiment into a complete animated short film.
Ropter – Gotham Chase is a nine-minute independent 3D animated short. Vehicles, characters and most of the animation were built by hand in Blender and Unreal Engine; the city environments are based on Epic’s City Sample and customized for the film. Post-production was done in DaVinci Resolve.
The Ropter now exists beyond the screen – as a 3D-printed collectible, finished by hand. It comes in two versions: the Ropter Collector in 1:18 scale and the pocket-sized Ropter Pocket in 1:56.
The Ropter is an original, independent vehicle design created by Alex Dang. While inspired by classic superhero vehicle aesthetics, this design and its physical representations (prints and models) are entirely original works. „Batman“, „Batmobile“, and related names are registered trademarks of DC Comics and Warner Bros. Discovery. This product and website are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by DC Comics or Warner Bros. Discovery.
