The VFX Process

In this episode, VFX graduates Sondre Fagerborg and Sebastian Sveen, who attended Kristiania University College in Norway, take you behind the scenes of their ambitious bachelor project, Cryo Odyssey—a fully CG sci-fi short that showcases their mastery of Hollywood-level VFX compositing. Sondre and Sebastian dive into the challenges and creative choices involved in bringing Cryo Odyssey to life, exploring the techniques they learned in their VFX Bachelor course and applied with advanced Nuke software to achieve cinematic results.

In addition to their collaborative work on Cryo Odyssey, each shares insights into their individual university projects. Sondre discusses The Suit, a live-action project enriched with VFX compositing to create stunning visual effects, while Sebastian reflects on The Cannon, another live-action production transformed through high-level VFX compositing.

Discover how their university projects not only refined their skills but also prepared them for success in the VFX industry. Their hard work paid off—Sondre and Sebastian both landed their dream VFX compositing jobs right out of university, ready to tackle Hollywood-level projects. If you're a VFX student, a compositing enthusiast, or just curious about the power of visual effects, this deep dive into their journey will inspire and inform you!

The VFX Process Podcast #53

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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In this episode, VFX artist and writer/director MX Bell discusses Giblets, his upcoming live-action dark comedy short currently in the pitching and visualisation stage. Bell explains how Unreal Engine and Virtual Production are essential in bringing his vision to life. Though still unfilmed, Unreal Engine’s real-time tech has enabled him to pitch the concept to collaborators and investors.

Bell, an award-winning writer/director and animator, created the festival-winning animated short Prazinburk Ridge in Unreal Engine and has visualised large-scale action scenes for major films like Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, No Time to Die, The Little Mermaid, 1917, and The Wheel of Time. Most recently, he served as VFX Art Director for Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine. In 2023, he joined Dimension Studios and DNEG 360 as their first real-time Visualisation Supervisor and mentored Unreal Engine Fellows.

Giblets, inspired by a bizarre encounter Bell had with two men in chicken suits in a London bar, stars comedy talents Thomas Green and Joel Stern. The film blends absurd humour with dark comedy, and Bell aims to expand it into a feature-length project. He is actively seeking funding and support to bring this unique vision to life.

This episode offers an engaging look at filmmaking with Unreal Engine, from visualising concepts to pitching, making it essential viewing for filmmakers and VFX artists interested in virtual production.

The VFX Process Podcast #52

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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In this video, we sit down with writer and animator Sean Buckelew to discuss his work on HBO Max's sci-fi animated series Scavengers Reign. Sean gives an inside look at writing for such an immersive, otherworldly project, sharing his approach to crafting unique stories and compelling characters in animation. He also talks about overcoming imposter syndrome, offering advice for creatives facing self-doubt, especially in the competitive fields of animation and screenwriting.

We also explore his animated short films Drone, I Am A Robot, and Lovestreams, diving into how technology and storytelling intersect. Sean’s insights into the impact of AI and tech on narratives are both thought-provoking and inspiring.

Sean Buckelew is an award-winning animator, writer, and director with an MFA from CalArts and a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is also a Guggenheim Fellow and a founding partner at Green Street Pictures, an independent animation studio in LA.

The VFX Process Podcast #50

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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In this video, animation director Raman Djafari dives deep into their career creating visually stunning music videos for some of the biggest names in the industry, including Coldplay, Dua Lipa, and Ashnikko. We'll explore their artistic journey, how they developed their signature style, and the truth behind working in the animation and music video industries. From their early influences to collaborating with major artists, Djafari sheds light on what it takes to thrive as an animation director in today's fast-paced creative world.

In particular, we'll break down the creative process behind the visually striking "Worms" music video by Ashnikko. This video, which is a mix of live-action and 3D animation created using Blender, exemplifies Djafari’s talent for blending the surreal with the real. We’ll look at how the 3D environments and characters were crafted in Blender to enhance Ashnikko's chaotic, rebellious persona, and how live-action footage was integrated seamlessly to create an otherworldly narrative.

Raman Djafari is an illustrator, animator and filmmaker working in both 2D and 3D, currently living in Berlin, Germany. Through colorful imagery and fragmented narratives they are hoping to reach into a realm of honest emotionality and willful fragility, creating surreal worlds and characters that oscillate between the familiar and the fantastical. 

The VFX Process Podcast #50

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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In this episode, we sit down with 3D artist Trent Fortune to explore his innovative work in recreating a scene from X-Men '97 using Unreal Engine. Trent shares his expertise on how this project, designed as a Previs exercise, demonstrates Unreal Engine's potential for revolutionizing Previs in animation and filmmaking.

Trent’s animation software of choice is Maya, where he modeled, rigged, and animated his X-Men character. He explains the process of importing a 3D character from Maya into Unreal Engine.

We’ll delve into the essential role of Previsualisation (Previz) in the filmmaking process, discussing its significance in the 3D pipeline and how it enhances creative decision-making and production efficiency.

Trent Fortune, a 3D animator based in Atlanta, Georgia, began his career in finals animation with notable projects like Cats and Finch. He has since transitioned to the realm of Previs and Postvis, contributing to major Marvel productions such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Doctor Strange, The Marvels, and She-Hulk. Join us as Trent offers a behind-the-scenes look at his career and the future of Previs in the industry.

The VFX Process Podcast #49

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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In this episode, we sit down with Christopher Rutledge, an innovative CG artist and filmmaker, to explore his unique approach to creating stunning animations. Known for his exceptional use of SideFX's Houdini, Chris takes us behind the scenes of his creative process, showcasing the making of several of his captivating short films. While Houdini is typically recognized as a go-to tool for blockbuster VFX, Chris explains why it's his software of choice for animation, proving that Houdini can do so much more than just big movie effects.

Chris delves into the future of Houdini, sharing insights on how the software is positioning itself to revolutionize the entire CG pipeline. With proceduralism at its core, Houdini is not only a powerhouse for creating complex simulations but also a versatile tool that’s set to dominate the animation and CG industry. Chris's perspective offers a glimpse into the potential of Houdini as it continues to expand its influence beyond traditional VFX into all areas of 3D content creation.

Currently, Chris is collaborating with a group of talented artists and SideFX to create an animated short film entirely in Houdini 20.5. This ambitious project is designed to stress test Houdini for the entire filmmaking and animation process, pushing the software to its limits and exploring new possibilities for the future of CG production.

Don’t miss out on this deep dive into the world of Houdini and discover how Chris is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in CG with Houdini.

The VFX Process Podcast #48

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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AJ Jefferies (MOONJAM) is a multi-disciplinary digital artist, illustrator, retoucher, character designer, animator, and director. He has been creating images, characters, and animations for the advertising, gaming, and entertainment industries since 2001.

In this episode, AJ dives into making his 3D animated short films Peas and Horse, fueled by wacky ideas and a desire to learn new 3D animation technology.

AJ, a versatile 3D Generalist, explains the chaotic yet creative nature of the job. We also discuss his involvement with The Monster Project, which helps children recognize the power of their imaginations and pursue their creative potential.

And don't miss AJ's story about making a tiny Ryan Gosling from The Fall Guy, which started as a 3D illustration for Empire Magazine and escalated into physical versions.

This episode offers great insights into working as a 3D Generalist, making animated short films, and having fun as a 3D artist.

The VFX Process Podcast #47

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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In this episode, Julian Glander dives deep into the making of Boys Go to Jupiter. Self-produced and self-financed, the film was animated entirely using Blender 3D software. Julian explains why Blender was the perfect software for this project and praises the Blender 3D community for their support. He shares the highs and lows of producing a feature-length animation in Blender over the course of five years.

Julian Glander is a 3D artist and animator who uses Blender. He has directed projects for Adult Swim, Disney, HBO Max, and Cartoon Network. He is also well-known for his cult hit video game ART SQOOL and his 3D illustrations, which frequently appear in the New York Times and New Yorker. His debut feature film, Boys Go to Jupiter, recently premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.

Boys Go to Jupiter is billed as a surreal animated coming-of-age story, brought to life in Glander’s trademark 3D visual style and sonic palette. The film follows a week in the life of a teenager in suburban Florida as he hustles through a series of bizarre gig economy errands.

The film features a voice cast of comedy and musical talent, including Jack Corbett, Elsie Fisher, Tabi Gevinson, Julio Torres, Sarah Sherman, Joe Pera, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Miya Folick, Chris Fleming, Cole Escola, River L. Ramirez, Eva Victor, Demi Adejuyigbe, and Max Wittert.

The VFX Process Podcast #46

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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Vikki & Niels discuss starting YONK, an animation studio utilising VR sculpting with Blender to create unique and playful character designs and animations.

"Hello there! We are YONK, the 3D animation studio that specialises in using Virtual Reality Sculpting software to craft visually striking artworks, animations and character designs. Our innovative approach to this technology has resulted in a unique style that seamlessly combines raw, childlike sculpting with polished, vibrant veneers. Our goal is to break free from traditional 3D norms and craft work that's playful, maximalist and delightfully strange." - YONK ONLINE

In this episode, Vikki Young and Niels van der Donk discuss starting their Netherlands-based animation studio, YONK, and their decision to use VR sculpting as the cornerstone of their creativity.

Discover how YONK produces unique and captivating animations with VR sculpting in Blender, accelerating their creative process by tenfold.

Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how they crafted a puppet rig in Blender using VR and designed an innovative car rig powered by geometry nodes and an Xbox controller.

This episode offers great insights into using VR as a creative tool, the power of Blender 3D, and developing a unique artistic style.

The VFX Process Podcast #45

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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SouthernShotty is widely known in the 3D community for his unique character designs and his Blender tutorials on YouTube. Shotty started teaching Blender skills to the community four years ago and is now one of the go-to content creators for those wanting to make 3D animated films.

In this episode, SouthernShotty shares the process of creating his animated short film "Watermelon Girl," made using Blender with a little help from After Effects and the Adobe Substance suite. After failing many times to complete this project, Shotty reveals how he finally made it to the finish line, covering the creative process of producing a 3D film in Blender. He focuses on scalability, character design, asset reuse, and the importance of feedback from the Blender community. He also delves into the challenges, learnings, and advice for aspiring artists and filmmakers.

Produced by a single animator, "Watermelon Girl" tells the story of a girl born from a watermelon seed in a departed king's stomach. A stunning journey begins, with an art style inspired by hand-made arts and crafts.

Looking to create your own films in Blender? Check out this ultimate guide to solo filmmaking. Learn about animation, production, design, and all the tips you need to create animated short films by yourself with the help of SouthernShotty.

The VFX Process Podcast #44

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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