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My Top 10 Belated 3D Inspirators
13 years ago
General
So lets talk about inspirations because for me, my situation is a little weird and I'll be frank; 3D was not my first love. The top spot in my life growing up was always wanting to hop in a suit and not be myself if you know what I mean. However, it doesn't mean there weren't elements of my second love which hadn't followed me through my childhood and onto today. In fact, I was growing up around the time 3D animation was also learning to ride a bike. With that said, lets take a trip back to the early 90's and climb on up in my Top 10 Belated Inspirations of my Second Love.
Number #10: The Minds Eye
This series was my very VERY first exposure to 3D animation and at the time, animations were smooth like they are today. They were very polygonal yet still amazing and I was certainly captured by the music which accompanied these shorts. This clip in particular was indeed the spark and of all things, a love story.
#9: Beyond the Mind's Eye
Yeah, I could have bundles this with number 10 but it caught me by surprise when I was attending summer camp and they put this series up on the stage. Things were moving a bit faster and more of the graphics smoothed out but most importantly from this came the song I would never get out of my head. I had only recently found it again because I didn't remember the title back then. The Seeds of Life
#8 Reboot
Yeah this should be a given and its true that this series is anything but obscure (at least I hope it is). When you think of it, for many this is the first time we're introduced to characters whom were created in 3D from the ground up rather than based on someone formerly of a 2d cartoon variety and a world based on life inside a game computer.
Hmm... who is that mysterious "user"?
#7 Transformers: Beast Wars
So... what do you do when you are putting formerly 2d characters onto a brand new 3D plane? Make an alternative timeline and remake them while keeping most of the voices. Sounds cheesy, right but obviously they did something write because it sure had me tuning in solid for the first two seasons.
#6: Toy Story
Yes this is also a given but credit is due to where effort is true. 1998. Toy Story the first mainstream 3d animated movie of its kind and for 2 years on after its release was a phenomenon and a perfect demonstration of good 3D innovation and great writing as well which I can always appreciate cause trust me, bad writing can ruin a movie no matter how its filmed. Imma plug Pogo's remixed version of the first Toy Story.
#5: Shrek
Coming up from behind Pixar is Dreamworks who's company moto was "F@$% you, Disney/Pixar!". This film was the first birdie out the car window. I know it sounds mean-spirited but heck it was better than just trying to copy Pixar. Instead, their first venture went into the realm of fractured fairy tales.... every single one in existence and some they came up with at the spur of a moment. Duloc is indeed a perfect place.
#4: The Elephants Dream
At the time this short film came out. Maya and 3Ds Max were already well on the table however, the champion of the OpenSource world, Blender was learning to stand. A lot of potential animators might have been driven a little crosseyed and discouraged by its interface so the software needed something that could say to the creative community, "Hey, I can do this". That short film was, the Elephants Dream originally named "Machina". Ever to this day I'm still trying to decipher all its meaning. Never the less, this film got many creative minds going on what Blender could do then and especially now.
Watch out for the Hat-Snarlers
#3 Monster House
It was a toss up between Over the Hedge and Monster House. What can I say? They were both fantastic and being a furry I would have invested more my interest into Over the Hedge. So what sold me on Image Mover's mocap animation feature Monster House? It was the writing and one character in particular whom I still quote to this day, "GET OFF MY LAWN!!"... Mr Nebbercracker. I love him as a Villain, a Crank, a Hero, he really sells it- rest of the cast is good too. I remember fondly my friend Andrew growing up. We both had overactive imaginations which stemed fount of misadventure.
"DO YOU WANT TO BE EATEN ALIVE!!!!?"
#2 Animusic
Easily one of the longest running 3d animations ever. Believe it for not, Animusic is a Christmas tradition for me. Its packed up with the ornaments and everything. I guess what captures me the most about Animusic is that the actual invention of these machines is very VERY plausible and heck, Intel is already hacking away at this idea.
Pipe Dream 2
Intel's Prototype
#1 Big Buck Bunny
If the Elephants Dream was about what Blender could do at the time, Big Buck Bunny was about what Blender will do in the future and as you can guess, it was very welcomed short by furries for obvious reasons of rendering the largest most huggable bunny in existence but even more so, the capability of rendering fine fur on a model. I really hope someone makes a Big Buck Bunny suit.
https://youtu.be/YE7VzlLtp-4
So there you have it. From polygons to multimillion dollar presentations. Join me next time when I shred up some gems from the depths of METAAAAAAAL!!
Number #10: The Minds Eye
This series was my very VERY first exposure to 3D animation and at the time, animations were smooth like they are today. They were very polygonal yet still amazing and I was certainly captured by the music which accompanied these shorts. This clip in particular was indeed the spark and of all things, a love story.
#9: Beyond the Mind's Eye
Yeah, I could have bundles this with number 10 but it caught me by surprise when I was attending summer camp and they put this series up on the stage. Things were moving a bit faster and more of the graphics smoothed out but most importantly from this came the song I would never get out of my head. I had only recently found it again because I didn't remember the title back then. The Seeds of Life
#8 Reboot
Yeah this should be a given and its true that this series is anything but obscure (at least I hope it is). When you think of it, for many this is the first time we're introduced to characters whom were created in 3D from the ground up rather than based on someone formerly of a 2d cartoon variety and a world based on life inside a game computer.
Hmm... who is that mysterious "user"?
#7 Transformers: Beast Wars
So... what do you do when you are putting formerly 2d characters onto a brand new 3D plane? Make an alternative timeline and remake them while keeping most of the voices. Sounds cheesy, right but obviously they did something write because it sure had me tuning in solid for the first two seasons.
#6: Toy Story
Yes this is also a given but credit is due to where effort is true. 1998. Toy Story the first mainstream 3d animated movie of its kind and for 2 years on after its release was a phenomenon and a perfect demonstration of good 3D innovation and great writing as well which I can always appreciate cause trust me, bad writing can ruin a movie no matter how its filmed. Imma plug Pogo's remixed version of the first Toy Story.
#5: Shrek
Coming up from behind Pixar is Dreamworks who's company moto was "F@$% you, Disney/Pixar!". This film was the first birdie out the car window. I know it sounds mean-spirited but heck it was better than just trying to copy Pixar. Instead, their first venture went into the realm of fractured fairy tales.... every single one in existence and some they came up with at the spur of a moment. Duloc is indeed a perfect place.
#4: The Elephants Dream
At the time this short film came out. Maya and 3Ds Max were already well on the table however, the champion of the OpenSource world, Blender was learning to stand. A lot of potential animators might have been driven a little crosseyed and discouraged by its interface so the software needed something that could say to the creative community, "Hey, I can do this". That short film was, the Elephants Dream originally named "Machina". Ever to this day I'm still trying to decipher all its meaning. Never the less, this film got many creative minds going on what Blender could do then and especially now.
Watch out for the Hat-Snarlers
#3 Monster House
It was a toss up between Over the Hedge and Monster House. What can I say? They were both fantastic and being a furry I would have invested more my interest into Over the Hedge. So what sold me on Image Mover's mocap animation feature Monster House? It was the writing and one character in particular whom I still quote to this day, "GET OFF MY LAWN!!"... Mr Nebbercracker. I love him as a Villain, a Crank, a Hero, he really sells it- rest of the cast is good too. I remember fondly my friend Andrew growing up. We both had overactive imaginations which stemed fount of misadventure.
"DO YOU WANT TO BE EATEN ALIVE!!!!?"
#2 Animusic
Easily one of the longest running 3d animations ever. Believe it for not, Animusic is a Christmas tradition for me. Its packed up with the ornaments and everything. I guess what captures me the most about Animusic is that the actual invention of these machines is very VERY plausible and heck, Intel is already hacking away at this idea.
Pipe Dream 2
Intel's Prototype
#1 Big Buck Bunny
If the Elephants Dream was about what Blender could do at the time, Big Buck Bunny was about what Blender will do in the future and as you can guess, it was very welcomed short by furries for obvious reasons of rendering the largest most huggable bunny in existence but even more so, the capability of rendering fine fur on a model. I really hope someone makes a Big Buck Bunny suit.
https://youtu.be/YE7VzlLtp-4
So there you have it. From polygons to multimillion dollar presentations. Join me next time when I shred up some gems from the depths of METAAAAAAAL!!
And ah yes, Reboot. "We are helping! We are helping!"
Speaking of games no, stop DON'T
GAME OVER. THE USER WINS.
fuck.
I did love Bioshock though. It was epic snapping my fingers and lighting people on fire!
I love Open Movies.