Terragaster Lithovore
Profile
Italian concept designer specializing in creatures and characters for film, television and games, grounded in anatomy, evolution and speculative biology.
Every creature starts from biology: anatomy first, then design. With this method I have shaped creatures and characters for numerous international productions across film, television, games and immersive experiences.
Today I lead the creative direction of FutuRats, the game studio I co-founded in Turin. I have worked in the industry since 2014, I teach at specialized schools, and my work has received various awards and publications and has been featured by many software companies.
- Film · 2025A Minecraft MovieCreature designer — Aaron Sims Creative
- TV series · 2023The GryphonCreatures and characters for Prime Video
- Studio · since 2023FutuRatsCo-founder & creative director
Method
From biology to the final render
Biology first
Every creature starts from real biological functions and mechanisms found in nature, studied in depth, at times with the advice of a zoologist.
A plausible structure
Fantastical beings still need functional, often scientific, coherence. Only once the anatomy holds up does the visual design begin.
Sculpting
ZBrush is the heart of the workflow. Detailing during advanced sculpting is the most rewarding stage, almost meditative.
Surface & light
Texturing is where every detail matters and expressiveness is pushed further; my visualizations aim for a photoreal finish.
“Even when designing fantastical beings, I strive for functional — sometimes even scientific — coherence and a sense of realism.”
Studio — since 2023
Co-Founder & Creative Director
An independent video game studio founded in Turin in 2023 and launched through Quickload, the OGR Tech accelerator backed by Microsoft and 34BigThings (Embracer Group). It develops original games and works with international publishers on outsourcing and co-development. I lead the creative direction of the studio, both on its original games and on its work for established IPs, including Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector for Slitherine.
In collaboration with
- and many others
Selected work
Creatures & Characters
N° 03 — Limax Magnodentis
Personal project · 2024
A carnivorous slug that can reach the size of a medium-sized dog.
View projectSelected credits
Creature DesignerA Minecraft MovieAaron Sims Creative — 2025
Creative DirectorWarhammer 40,000: BattlesectorFutuRats — 2025Creative direction of the FutuRats art team for Slitherine, including the DLC Deeds of the Fallen (2025), a twelve-mission Sisters of Battle campaign
Creature & Character DesignerThe GryphonW&B Television — 2023The horned ones (Thorock, Yezariael & Yarmael, Gosia & Fendia), built as prosthetics by Millennium FX
Freelance 3D Character ArtistBatora: Lost HavenStormind Games — 2022
3D Lead DesignerSymbiosisPolymorf — 2022The whole world: creatures, characters and environments. IDFA DocLab 2021 Special Jury Award
N° 07 — The Magic of Life
Personal project · 2022
The final fetal incubation stages of one of the first experiments in artificial organic life.
View projectPress & recognition
Awards, features, interviews
A selection of the awards, articles and interviews about my work.
- 2025RenderHubInterview — creature and character design for games and CGI
- 2023SXSWSYMBIOSIS selected for the XR Experience Spotlight
- 2023Autodesk ArnoldThe Scavenger — featured artwork
- 20233DconnexionAlien of the Depths — commissioned artwork
- 2022Holland FestivalSYMBIOSIS
- 20223D World, issue 288SYMBIOSIS — Multibody Creature published
- 2021IDFA DocLabSYMBIOSIS — Special Jury Award for Creative Technology
- 20203DTotalTriturus Profundis — Excellence Award
- 20193DTotalCancericatus Fluvialitis — Excellence Award
- 20193DTotalDoctor Octopus — Excellence Award