Stories with Tag filmmaking

• Walt Disney's MultiPlane Camera (Filmed Feb. 13, 1957) [video]

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  Posted: 2025-03-07 19:06:30

  Verbose tl;dr

  This 1957 video demonstrates Walt Disney's groundbreaking multiplane camera. It showcases how the camera system, through a series of vertically stacked panes of glass holding artwork and lights, creates a sense of depth and parallax in animation. By moving the different layers at varying speeds and distances from the camera, Disney's animators achieved a more realistic and immersive three-dimensional effect, particularly noticeable in background scenes like forests and cityscapes. The video highlights the technical complexity of the camera and its impact on achieving a unique visual style, particularly in films like "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "Pinocchio."

  This 1957 television program, hosted by Walt Disney himself, provides an in-depth and fascinating demonstration of the multiplane camera, a groundbreaking invention developed by Disney Studios to enhance the depth and realism of their animated films. Mr. Disney, with his characteristic avuncular charm, begins by explaining the limitations of traditional animation, where flat artwork is photographed sequentially, resulting in a somewhat two-dimensional appearance. He then introduces the multiplane camera as a solution to this problem, meticulously describing its complex structure and functionality.

  The camera, a towering apparatus of metal and gears, is shown to consist of multiple panes of glass, each holding separate layers of artwork representing different elements of a scene, such as background, foreground characters, and intermediate objects. These panes are arranged vertically, creating a sense of depth within the camera's field of view. Disney elaborates on how the camera's intricate system of vertical movement allows each pane to be adjusted independently along the Z-axis, simulating parallax and creating a more convincing illusion of three-dimensional space. He emphasizes how this precise control over depth-of-field allows animators to achieve effects previously impossible in traditional animation, such as moving through a complex scene with changing perspectives, and focusing the viewer's attention on specific elements through simulated camera movements.

  The demonstration includes several practical examples of the multiplane camera in action. Viewers are shown how the camera can simulate the movement of a camera through a cityscape, with buildings appearing to rise and fall as the perspective shifts. Another example demonstrates the creation of a forest scene, where foreground trees appear to move past the camera at a different speed than the background trees, creating a realistic sense of depth and movement. The camera's ability to subtly shift focus and add intricate details to backgrounds is also highlighted, showcasing its versatility in enhancing the overall visual narrative.

  Throughout the presentation, Disney emphasizes the significant time and effort involved in utilizing the multiplane camera, pointing out the meticulous planning and precise movements required to achieve the desired effect. He also underscores the dedication and artistry of his animation team, who painstakingly craft each layer of artwork and manipulate the camera with great precision to bring these scenes to life. The segment concludes with a reiteration of the multiplane camera's importance in advancing the art of animation and achieving a higher level of realism and visual storytelling in Disney's films.

  • Walt Disney
  • Multiplane Camera
  • animation
  • filmmaking
  • History of Animation
  • 1957
  • Vintage Film
  • Documentary
  • Technology
  • Innovation
  • Special Effects
  • Disney History
  • Behind the Scenes
  • Camera Techniques

  Summary of Comments ( 43 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43293192

  Verbose tl;dr

  The Hacker News comments on the Walt Disney multiplane camera video largely express appreciation for the ingenuity and artistry of the technique. Several commenters note how the depth and parallax achieved by the multiplane camera adds a significant level of realism and immersion compared to traditional animation. Some discuss the meticulous work involved, highlighting the challenges of synchronizing the multiple layers and the sheer amount of artwork required. A few comments mention the influence of this technique on later filmmaking, including its digital descendants in modern CGI and visual effects. Others reminisce about seeing Disney films as children and the impact the multiplane camera's visual richness had on their experience.

  The Hacker News post linking to a 1957 video showcasing Walt Disney's Multiplane Camera has generated several comments discussing its historical significance and technical ingenuity.

  Several commenters express admiration for the technological achievement the multiplane camera represents, particularly given the era in which it was developed. They marvel at the complexity and precision involved in creating the depth and parallax effects achieved with this analog system. Some draw comparisons to modern CGI, highlighting how impressive the results were for the time, predating digital solutions by decades. The ingenuity of Disney's team and their dedication to pushing the boundaries of animation are recurring themes.

  A few comments delve into the specific technical details of the multiplane camera system, explaining how the multiple layers of artwork and controlled lighting create the illusion of depth and three-dimensionality. They discuss how the camera moves across these layers, creating the parallax effect and giving a sense of scale and perspective.

  Some comments also touch upon the broader impact of Disney's innovations on the animation industry. They acknowledge the influence of the multiplane camera on subsequent animation techniques and its role in shaping the visual language of animated storytelling.

  A particularly insightful comment chain discusses the use of the multiplane camera in specific Disney films like "Pinocchio," "Snow White," and "Peter Pan," highlighting how the technique contributed to the immersive and magical quality of these classic animations. These comments analyze specific scenes, pointing out the subtle details made possible by the multiplane camera.

  A few users share personal anecdotes about their experiences with animation or express a renewed appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship behind classic Disney films.

  Overall, the comments reflect a deep appreciation for the ingenuity and artistry behind Disney's multiplane camera, acknowledging its historical significance and lasting impact on animation. They offer a blend of technical analysis, historical context, and personal reflections, providing a rich discussion around the showcased video.

• Blender-made movie Flow takes Oscar

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  Posted: 2025-03-03 01:17:46

  Verbose tl;dr

  "Flow," an animated short film created using the open-source software Blender, won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film at the 2025 Academy Awards. This marks a significant milestone, being the first Oscar win for a film primarily produced using Blender. The film, directed by an unknown director, explores themes of environmentalism and the interconnectedness of nature as it tells the story of a plastic bottle's journey through a polluted waterway.

  In a remarkable triumph for open-source software and independent filmmaking, the animated feature film "Flow," meticulously crafted using the freely available 3D creation suite Blender, has been awarded the prestigious accolade of Best Animated Feature Film at the 2025 Academy Awards. This momentous victory, as reported by Reuters on March 3rd, 2025, signifies a watershed moment for the animation industry, demonstrating that high-caliber, award-winning cinematic experiences can be realized outside the confines of traditional, proprietary software ecosystems and without the backing of major studios. The film's success serves as a compelling testament to the power and potential of Blender, a community-driven project that offers professional-grade tools for modeling, animation, rendering, and more, entirely free of charge. "Flow's" Oscar win not only underscores the increasing accessibility of sophisticated animation technology but also highlights the growing recognition and validation of productions developed outside established studio pipelines. This achievement is poised to inspire a new generation of animators and filmmakers, empowering them to pursue their creative visions with readily available, open-source tools, potentially fostering a more diverse and democratized landscape within the animation industry. The implications of this victory extend beyond the individual achievement of "Flow," potentially signaling a paradigm shift in the way animated films are produced and perceived, opening up new avenues for independent creators and challenging the conventional dominance of large studios. The news of this win reverberates throughout the artistic and technological communities alike, underscoring the transformative potential of open-source software in the realm of creative expression.

  • Blender
  • Oscar
  • Animated Feature Film
  • Computer Animation
  • 3D Animation
  • filmmaking
  • independent film
  • Award Winning Film
  • flow
  • visual effects
  • CGI

  Summary of Comments ( 119 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43237273

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN commenters were impressed with the technical achievement of Flow winning an Oscar, particularly given its creation using Blender, a free and open-source software. Several pointed out the democratizing effect this has on animation, making high-quality production more accessible. Some debated the film's artistic merits separately from its technical ones, with some finding it derivative of Pixar while others praised its unique style. A few commenters speculated on the future impact of this win, predicting an increase in Blender's adoption and potentially a shift in the animation industry towards more open-source tools. There was also discussion about the challenges of using Blender for large-scale productions, with some noting the need for robust pipeline tools and experienced users.

  The Hacker News post "Blender-made movie Flow takes Oscar" (linking to a Reuters article about the animated short film "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse" winning the Oscar) has a modest number of comments, focusing on the significance of Blender's role in the film's creation.

  Several commenters celebrate Blender's increasing prominence in professional animation, highlighting it as a free and open-source success story. They point out that a major award like an Oscar validates Blender as a legitimate tool capable of producing high-quality work, potentially encouraging more studios and artists to adopt it. This is contrasted with proprietary software often seen as cost-prohibitive, especially for smaller studios or independent creators.

  Some comments delve into the technical aspects, mentioning specific Blender features or discussing the pipeline used in the film's production. One commenter mentions the impressive fur rendering, speculating about the techniques employed. Another highlights the film's unique visual style, emphasizing that it doesn't look like typical CGI, which they see as a positive.

  There's a discussion around the implications for the animation industry. Some believe this win could be a turning point, leading to wider Blender adoption and potentially disrupting the dominance of established commercial software. Others express cautious optimism, acknowledging the significance but suggesting it's too early to predict a major shift.

  A few commenters correct the title of the post, pointing out that the Oscar-winning film is "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse," not "Flow." They also clarify that while Blender was used extensively in the film's production, other tools were also likely involved. One commenter mentions the use of Apple hardware, specifically.

  Overall, the comments reflect a sense of excitement and pride within the Blender community and a broader recognition of the software's growing importance in the animation world. They express hope for increased accessibility and innovation within the industry thanks to open-source tools like Blender.

• The Free Movie: Frame-by-frame, handrawn reproduction of "The Bee Movie" (2023)

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  Posted: 2025-01-13 00:27:00

  Verbose tl;dr

  A team of animators has painstakingly recreated the entirety of DreamWorks' "Bee Movie" frame-by-frame, using hand-drawn animation. This "remake," titled "The Free Movie," is intended as a transformative work of art, commenting on copyright, ownership, and the nature of filmmaking itself. It is available for free viewing on their website. The project, while visually similar to the original, features subtle alterations and imperfections inherent in the hand-drawn process, giving it a unique aesthetic. This distinguishes it from mere piracy and positions it as an artistic endeavor rather than a simple copy.

  In a monumental undertaking of artistic dedication and perhaps a touch of obsessive zeal, a group of individuals known collectively as "The Free Movie" team have embarked upon a painstaking recreation of the 2007 DreamWorks Animation film, "Bee Movie." This project, meticulously documented on the website thefreemovie.buzz, involves the frame-by-frame, hand-drawn reproduction of the entire animated feature. Eschewing direct copying or tracing, each frame of the original film serves as a mere reference point, inspiring a unique interpretation rendered in a variety of individual artistic styles. This results in a visually arresting and often surreal reimagining of the source material, where the familiar characters and scenes of "Bee Movie" are filtered through a kaleidoscope of diverse artistic lenses.

  The website itself serves as both a showcase for the project's progress and a testament to its ambition. Visitors can explore the growing collection of redrawn frames, each presented alongside its corresponding original frame for comparison. The sheer scale of the project is readily apparent, with thousands of frames yet to be completed. The site also details the collaborative nature of the endeavor, explaining how individuals can contribute their own hand-drawn frames to the ever-expanding mosaic of artistic expression. This open-source approach to animation fosters a sense of community and shared creative ownership, transforming "Bee Movie" from a product of corporate filmmaking into a dynamic, evolving artwork forged by the collective efforts of numerous participants.

  The website underscores the transformative nature of the project, emphasizing that it is not simply a replication, but a reinterpretation. The artists involved are encouraged to express their individual styles and perspectives, resulting in a film that, while echoing the narrative and visual structure of the original, simultaneously departs from it in fascinating and unpredictable ways. The final product promises to be a unique hybrid of homage and artistic exploration, a testament to the enduring power of creative collaboration and the surprising depths that can be found even within the most commercially driven forms of entertainment. This intricate, labor-intensive process effectively transforms "Bee Movie" into a novel canvas for artistic expression, pushing the boundaries of fan art and challenging traditional notions of authorship and intellectual property. The finished product, though still under construction, promises to be a truly singular cinematic experience.

  • The Free Movie
  • The Bee Movie
  • frame-by-frame
  • handrawn
  • reproduction
  • animation
  • fan project
  • rotoscoping
  • 2023 film
  • independent film
  • hand-drawn
  • remake
  • filmmaking
  • parody
  • homage
  • cult film

  Summary of Comments ( 50 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42678584

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN commenters were largely impressed by the dedication and absurdity of recreating The Bee Movie frame-by-frame. Some questioned the legality of the project, wondering about copyright infringement despite the transformative nature of the work. Others drew parallels to other painstaking fan projects, like the shot-for-shot remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Several commenters expressed fascination with the motivations behind such an undertaking, speculating on artistic expression, commentary on copyright, or simply the joy of a bizarre, challenging project. A few users shared their anticipation for the finished product and discussed the optimal viewing experience, suggesting a side-by-side comparison with the original.

  The Hacker News comments section for "The Free Movie: Frame-by-frame, handrawn reproduction of 'The Bee Movie'" contains a lively discussion with various perspectives on the project.

  Several commenters express admiration for the dedication and effort involved in recreating the entire movie frame by frame. They see it as a testament to perseverance and a unique form of artistic expression, even if they question the choice of The Bee Movie as the subject. The sheer amount of work involved is a recurring theme, with some calculating the immense time investment required for such an undertaking.

  Some discuss the legal implications of such a project, questioning whether it falls under fair use or constitutes copyright infringement. This leads to a debate about transformative work and the boundaries of copyright law, with differing opinions on whether the hand-drawn nature of the reproduction changes its legal standing. The comparison to other fan projects, like recut trailers and fan edits, is brought up in this context.

  A few commenters express confusion or apathy towards the project, finding it pointless or a waste of time. They question the artistic merit of simply redrawing an existing film, arguing that it doesn't add anything new or original. This contrasts with those who see value in the process itself, regardless of the source material.

  The choice of The Bee Movie is also a topic of discussion. Some see it as an ironic or humorous choice, while others find it baffling. The existing memetic status of the movie is mentioned, with some suggesting the project further contributes to the film's online legacy.

  The technical aspects of the project are also discussed. Commenters speculate on the methods used to create the individual frames, and some question the claim of it being entirely hand-drawn, suggesting the possibility of rotoscoping or other techniques.

  Finally, several commenters express interest in seeing the completed project, acknowledging the dedication and effort involved, even if they don't fully understand the motivation behind it. The overall sentiment is a mix of fascination, confusion, and respect for the sheer scale of the undertaking.