The VFX Process

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 #52Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Support GIBLETS: click hereConnect With MX Bell click hereFor the video podcast: click here

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 #50Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Connect With Sean click hereFor the video podcast:PART 1: click herePART 2: click here

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 #50Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Connect With Raman click hereFor the video podcast click here

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 #49Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Connect With Trent click hereFor the video podcast click here

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 #48Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Connect With Chris click hereFor the video podcast click here

AJ Jefferies is a multi-disciplinary digital artist and animator known for his imaginative 3D animated shorts. He shares insights on creating his quirky films Peas and Horse, merging humor with the nitty-gritty of 3D technology. AJ recounts his whimsical journey of crafting a tiny Ryan Gosling for a magazine cover, delving into the joys and challenges of character design. He emphasizes nurturing children's creativity through The Monster Project, highlighting the delicate balance between fun and professionalism in the animation world.

Julian Glander, a 3D artist and animator, discusses the making of his feature-length animation 'Boys Go to Jupiter' using Blender. He praises the Blender community and shares insights on the challenges and joys of producing the film over five years. The film follows a surreal coming-of-age story with a diverse voice cast. Glander emphasizes the importance of starting small and achieving work-life balance in long projects.

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 ONLINEIn 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 #45Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Connect With YONK click hereFor the video podcast click here

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 #44Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Connect With SoutherShotty click hereFor the video podcast click here

Jess Wiseman, a UK-based 3D animator, shares her journey from painting to working with brands like KSI using Blender. She discusses learning on the job, creating photorealistic visuals, blending digital art with physical products, and future plans for her brand Figuregot.