The 2024 class of the ESMA school presents its 3D animation short film, A Cursed Armor Teams Up with a Goblin. This fantasy comedy follows an enchanted armor, once a goblin, on its quest to recover its body. With voices by actors such as Emmanuel Curtil, the project culminates the students' academic journey and is now available online after its festival run, offering a perfect excuse to analyze its production pipeline.
Pipeline and References: From Preproduction to Final Render 🎬
The short serves as an excellent example of a comprehensive academic 3D pipeline. The collectively directed team started from clear cinematic references like Super Mario Bros. and Kung Fu Panda to define the atmosphere and lighting treatment. This approach guided all phases: from modeling and texturing of characters and theatrical scenery, to rigging and animation that gives charisma to the peculiar duo. Lighting, key to evoking the fairy tale tone, and special effects were integrated into a rendering process that prioritized cohesive visual narrative, demonstrating notable technical mastery.
Academic Project as Technical and Professional Demonstration 🚀
Beyond the final result, this short film exemplifies the value of end-of-studies projects as a professional springboard. The students' ability to organize, define a visual style inspired by major productions, and execute all stages of the 3D pipeline under a common vision is their best calling card. The film not only tells a surprising story but also evidences the technical and artistic maturity achieved, marking the starting point for their entry into the animation industry.
How do you design and animate the relationship between two antagonistic characters, like a cursed armor and a goblin, to build a credible and exciting visual narrative in a 3D short film?
(P.S.: Previz in cinema is like the storyboard, but with more chances for the director to change their mind.)