Category: Animation

Animated films provide a source of joy, inspiration, and creative storytelling that can be enjoyed by whole family.

Caldera (2012)

Post author By Free Movies Cinema
Post date April 18, 2016

Fantasty off-medication world!

Caldera (2012) is a story about a young girl who goes off her medication and leaves a bleak metropolis to immerse herself in a vibrant oceanic cove. Ultimately, the story is about the young girl’s impossible predicament, where she can not live in either the fantastical and haunting world of psychosis or in the marginalizing society that mandates her medication. It is created in conjunction with Bit Films, the computer animation incubator program at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. From traditional stop-motion photography and paper cutouts to entire worlds created within the computer, work in the areas of animation and digital art at Hampshire College is as varied as the school itself. Hampshire uses a distinctive approach that combines individualized training with interdisciplinary collaboration between studio artists, animators, filmmakers, composers, and computer scientists.

Although the meaning of the short was reasonably clear by virtue of the woman clearly going off her meds at the start, it did help my understanding afterwards to read about how director Viera was inspired to make this film due to his father’s schizoaffective disorder, which would see him disappear into delusions but then also have to be dragged back to a much more sedated reality by his required medication. To look after someone in this condition must be hugely challenging and accordingly in Caldera, Viera offers no answers but rather just presents the woman’ battle between the two worlds. It is a winner of Prix Ars Electronica – Award of Distinction (Computer Animation), Seattle International Film Festival – Award of Innovation and Rome Independent Film Festival – Best Short Animation in 2012. As a narrative it is difficult and ultimately will probably work best if you understand where Viera is coming from and what he has to deal with. I am foruntate enough not to be able to relate and as a result I found that some of the film didn’t move me quite as much – specifically as the film went on and went away from the more obvious stages of the conflict. It still worked enough for me to understand enough to go with it though.

Directed by: Evan Viera. Written by: Chris Bishop

Action Animation

The Chase (2012)

Post author By Free Movies Cinema
Post date April 15, 2016

The Chase (2012) – Four nasty ladies lead police on high speed pursuit

A crazy, irresistible, intense, spectacular car chase between police and four unlikely accomplices that weave in and out of traffic with the entire police squad and a few choppers on their tail. Crazy chicks + crazy car chase = loads of fun.

>This short film is very well animated and is essentially little more than excessive car chase action as if we were watching a video game. When it cuts to the women in particular the animation is not quite as good and the voice work is a bit too obvious but it does work. The wider shots are really well animated and seem very close to reality apart from how excessive they are. The destruction and the carefree way it is caused is actually quite fun to watch and I enjoyed it because of how slick and hollow it was – not in spite of it. The conclusion is a nice little punch-line which fits the fleeting and fun nature of the short. Not a great film nor one that will stick in the mind but a fun experience that does well to capture the appeal and aesthetics of video gaming (appropriately the film is directed by Philippe Gamer).

Philippe Gamer produced and directed this film that looks like a cinematic sequence from a high-end console game. Made in Paris-based VFX and game animation studio Space Patrol. Animago AWARD prize winner.

Directed by: Philippe Gamer

Animation Comedy

Dji. Death Fails (2012)

Post author By Free Movies Cinema
Post date April 15, 2016

Dji. Death Fails (2012) – Agent of Death Dji has to take the soul of a dying man!

Dji. Death Fails (2012) – Dji is an unusual death. The Dark Knight has appeared in a different form. No, he is not white and fluffy. Dji is just terribly unlucky. All he has to do is to take the soul of a dying man. But the screenwriters prepared some obstacles for Dji. Will he manage to overcome them? You’ll see. A funny and well animated short film by the talented team at Simpals!

Simpals is a group of Moldovan companies which provides online services and owns one of the largest animation studios of the country, which has a portfolio of more than 100 advertising videos and 3 animated short films. Since 2008, the studio works on the first Moldovan 3D animated long film — (Romanian)”?igan” (The Gipsy). In 2010, Simpals opened “The School of Monsters” (MONSTERS.MD) — a school of animation and computer graphics. The Grand Winner of the amazingly high quality 7th FILMSshort comptition and the comic animation is as good as Pixar.

Directed by Dmitri Voloshin

Animation Comedy Drama

Something Left, Something Taken (2010)

Post author By Free Movies Cinema
Post date April 15, 2016

Everyone who enters a crime scene, leaves something behind and takes something away. ‘Something Left, Something Taken’ is a 10 minute animated dark comedy about a vacationing couples’ encounter with a man they believe to be the Zodiac Killer. Watercolor studies were used to explore mood and atmosphere. Though these color sketches were done very quickly, most of the core design ideas were kept in tact in the final frames from the film. The movie was written with storyboard thumbnails. In fact, there was never a formal screenplay for the film and the dialog was more or less improvised in recording sessions. Final characters were constructed from fabric, rope, clay, ping pong balls, erasers and soy milk carton. Then they were photographed and assembled in After Effects.

More info on Making of.

Directed by Ru Kuwahata, Max Porter.
Starring: Ru Kuwahata, Max Porter, Kyle McKeveny

Adventure Animation

The Monk and the Monkey (2010)

Post author By Free Movies Cinema
Post date April 15, 2016

A determined young boy, Ragu, is sent by his master on his final quest to become a monk. A seemingly simple task becomes an unexpected challenge for Ragu as he discovers the real value of his quest. Animation, render, gradation of story, everything is really great! Love the design and composition. Made by students at at Ringling College of Art and Design.

More info: official page

Directed by Brendan Carroll, Shant Ergenian, Francesco Giroldini

Animation Science fiction

Artificial Paradise, Inc. (2010)

Post author By Free Movies Cinema
Post date April 15, 2016

Sterile subterranean world of tomorrow

Artificial Paradise, Inc is a futuristic/chaotic 3-D animation anticipating a future where a major corporation has developed an unique software, based on organic virtual reality, which holds all the lost memories of humankind. A user connects to this database of the forgotten… what is he searching for?

Visually impressive CG film that is reminiscent of Lucas’ THX1138 and the sterile and heavily computerized subterranean world, where sex is forbidden, mankind lives in vast underground cities and free will is outlawed by means of mandatory medication that controls human emotion.

Jean-Paul Frenay is a Creative Director/ Film Director and multidisciplinary Visual Artist living in Belgium. Born in Siegen, he spent his youth in Germany before moving to Brussels to begin his studies. His particular vision and the quality of his films made him graduate with honors from the InRaCi Film School. After a specialization in visual effects, he started his career as a flame artist where he developed his skills which gave him the confidence to start directing. He took his first steps directing commercials and quickly became known for his ability to mix many different techniques, including live action, stop motion animation, CGI, miniatures, motion design, video mapping and photographic artworks.

Directed by Jean-Paul Frenay

Animation Western

Malaria (2013)

Post author By Free Movies Cinema
Post date April 15, 2016

Progressive Western Film

In a saloon in the old west, a young man sits down opposite an older man; the air carries tension as the two talk and soon it becomes apparent that one of the men is Death and that the other, Fabiano, has come to challenge him.

Created by Brazilian artist Edson Oda, this mixed media western film revolves around the ancient human legend that Death comes to people in a physical human form . The story is told by a series of story boards being turned and moved on a table. Done as a motion comic, film tells the story of a man hired to kill Death. This amazing short western film uses time-lapse photography, origami, comic book illustration, and wild west myths and legends and first intention was to submit this project to “Django Unchained” Emerging Artist contest.

Directed by Edson Oda. Starring: Rodrigo Araujo, Antonio Moreno

Animation

The Pyramids of Egypt (2014)

Post author By Free Movies Cinema
Post date April 15, 2016

The Pyramids of Egypt (2014) – an archaeologist digs out ancient remote control!

The year is 1920, and an archaeologist is on an expedition in Egypt with his trusty camel. But it’s his steed who discovers the strangest secrets lurking out in the desert—thanks to a mystical remote control.
Les Pyramides d’Égypte was made by Corentin Charron, Lise Corriol, Olivier Lafay, and Nicolas Mrikhi, and is part of the permanent collection at Musée des civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée in Marseille.
via kuriositas
Technology/software used:
– Zbrush & Mudbox (characters, props and set sculpt)
– Maya (Rigging and animation)
– 3ds Max & Vray (Modeling, shading and rendering)
– FumeFx (sand FX)
– HairFarm (Hairs and camel fur)
– Mari & Photoshop (Characters and props texturing)
– After Effect (Compositing)
Directed by :
Corentin Charron, Lise Corriol, Olivier Lafay, Nicolas Mrikhi

Music by :
Kalina ?wi?tnicka

From the permanent exhibition « Merveilles du Monde » – « Au-delà du monde connu »
Galerie Méditerranée — MuCEM (Musée des civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée)
7 promenade de Robert Laffont (esplanade du J4) – 13002 Marseille (France)

http://www.onectin.fr
http://www.nicojak.com
http://www.lafayolivier.com
http://lisecorriol.wix.com/lise

http://www.mucem.org
Copyright Supinfocom Arles / MuCEM / Tu Nous ZA Pas Vus Productions – 2013

Animation War

Relaxation aka La Détente (2011)

Post author By Free Movies Cinema
Post date April 15, 2016

In order to cope with the battle around him, the soldier in a trench during the first world war, becomes paralyzed with fear. imagines a land where toy soldiers kill only balloons, shoot daisies from their rifles, and receive chocolate coin medals. But even in his imagination, he can’t escape the horrifying truth about war and what it costs the people who fight.

La Détente is a 2011 short French film directed by Pierre Ducos and Betrand Bey. It has won several prizes, including Best of show award at SIGGRAPH Asia 2011 and Best Animation award at the Sapporo International Short Film Festival. The film tells the story of a French soldier in World War I who becomes paralyzed with fear while in the trenches. He escapes in his head to an imaginary world where toys fight wars instead of humans. Eric Liu, chair of the Computer animation festival at SIGGRAPH Asia 2011, called La Détente a standout of the festival, saying “This animation short brings a unique and visually stunning computer-generated animation to the audience

Awards: Jury Special Mention award – Larissa 2012, Greece, Best Short Film award – Anirmau 2012, Spain, Best International Short film award – Cortoons 2012, Rome, Public award – Festival Cinecourtanimé 2012, Roanne France, Best Short film award – Festival Ciné-Jeune 2012, St-Quentin France, 3rd Price International Short Film award – Animfest 2012, Athènes, Best Animated film award – L’ombre d’un court 2012, Jouy en Josas, Official selection Clermont-Ferrand 2012, France, Best of Show award – SIGGRAPH ASIA 2011, Hong Kong, Prix de la Jeunesse – Festival national du film d’animation, Bruz France, Jury Special Award – IAF, Istanbul Turkey, Best Environment Design – View awards 2011, Turin Italy, Best Animation award – 6th Sapporo International Short Film Festival, Japan, Jury Prize – OFF Court Festival 2011, Trouville France, Jury Special Mention – Les Percéides Québec, Best Short film – Festival du film francophone d’Angoulême, France, Official selection Annecy 2011, France

Directed by Bertrand Bey, Pierre Ducos

Animation Comedy

Monkey Symphony (2014)

Post author By Free Movies Cinema
Post date April 14, 2016

Planet of the (piano) apes

Two monkeys wish to break out of formality and play their piano freely. Their teacher insists on classical music, however, one monkey chooses to live a free life. In a world where the monkeys are music-lovers, two young chimpanzees are separated by a musical dispute. This amazing 3D animated movie is made by students from the ESMA school at Montpellier in France.

ESMA is an arts school with over 20 years of experience, which saw the birth of many graphic designers, photographers and 3D animators. Renowned for the quality and richness of its artistic education, the school offers training in design, graphic design, photography and 3D animation, as well as an Upgrade Applied Arts (MANAA). The goal: to prepare its students for various artistic professions to fully fulfill their creative desires. Located in Montpellier, Toulouse and Nantes, the school offers lessons in line with the professional environment.

Directed by Maxime Baudin, Mélanie Fumey, Julien Gauthier, Samuel Gonon

Animation War

World War (2008)

Post author By Free Movies Cinema
Post date April 14, 2016

World War (2008) – Robot Destroying Hiroshima Once More!

The film takes place 100 years after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, and it follows a robot who’s trying to bomb the city once again. But instead of dropping the bomb he runs into some trouble — and a bigger, more intense foe. In a race against time to avoid a new nuclear war a robot has to pit his skill against another even more terrifying if deviant robot.

World War is a 3D animation by Vincent Chai. Vincent did it for his degree project at University of Hertfordshire. It took around 9 months from pre-production til finish. World War won the Grand Prix for the best animation from the 2008 Animation Expose event from University of Herfordshire.

Vincent Chai is a 3D environment Artist currently working at The Creative Assembly, UK .

Directed by Vincent Chai

Official page | Via Filmschoolrejects

Animation

Sticky (2014)

Post author By Free Movies Cinema
Post date April 14, 2016

Sticky (2014) – A meditation on uniqueness and the persistence of life

The astonishing true story of the Lord Howe Island stick insects. ‘Sticky’ is a short animated documentary telling the astonishing true story of the stick insects from Lord Howe Island. Why these particular insects? Because their story is quite simply amazing. They evolved on Lord Howe Island, a tiny speck in the sea between Australia and New Zealand, and exist nowhere else. They’re strikingly different to other stick insects – they are robust, fast, jet black and huge – islanders used to call them tree lobsters. In 1918 rats were accidentally introduced to Lord Howe and quickly munched their way through the entire stick insect population. Within a few years the insects were extinct. Or were they? There were some tantalising clues to suggest that they may, against all the odds, have colonised the most remote, inhospitable place you can imagine. . . Ball’s Pyramid is the tallest sea stack in the world, as high as a skyscraper, as thin as a blade, rising almost vertically from the sea 25km off Lord Howe Island. It looks exactly like a super-villain’s .

SXSW Films for the Forest 2014: WINNER: Best Film Under 40 Minutes
St Kilda Film Festival 2014: WINNER: Best Documentary, NOMINATED: Best Film
San Francisco Green Film Festival 2014: WINNER: Best Short Film

Directed and animated by Jilli Rose.

Adventure Animation

Against Time (2012)

Post author By Free Movies Cinema
Post date April 22, 2014

Against Time (2012) – Short Film about love in a post-apocalypse world

Contre temps (Against time) is set in a post-apocalyptic city that was long ago covered by rising tides. While exploring the city at low tide, however, a scavenger discovers another soul within the city. A man searches for clocks in a submerged world where the water recedes once per year. He meets a girl who changes his outlook on time.

This animated short was directed by Jérémi Boutelet, Thibaud Clergue, Tristan Ménard, Camille Perrin, Gaël Megherbi, and Lucas Veber as their graduation film, and it was an official selection at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and at Siggraph 2013.

It uses the painterly quality of its CG animation to a particularly grand effect, creating a beautiful city reclaimed by sea life and a pair of characters who prove winning in the end.