W3V2

For many reasons, 3D computer animated films translate very well on the flatscreen TVs. Since all videos are played without sound, the characters’ actions and expressions in these films tell the story without words. This makes sense because most 3D animators are focused on the appearance and movements of the characters. Also, kids love them! It’s a great way to educate adults on the capabilities of computers and keep their little ones entertained while they are busy on a computer.

In April 2008, Blender released Big Buck Bunny, a short film created using their free 3D animation application. I was amazed to discover that such a complex and professional program was free. Blender works on Macs and PCs and the download does not require much memory, so pretty much anyone can have the program on their computer. Since it is a very technical program, it requires much effort to learn. However, there are many tutorials, wikis and communities online that provide support and instruction for fellow Blender users. There are a huge number of people using Blender and creating great animations with it.

Blender’s software and the community of users that has formed around it is a great example of how the internet can be a great place to share ideas and foster creativity. To download Blender and try it for yourself, go to Blender.org. For more information on Blender and a list of websites and wikis devoted to Blender, go to Wikipedia’s Blender entry. To view other short films created using blender, check out the Blender gallery.

Big Buck Bunny plays on our flat screens with a message below the film that reads: “This animated film was created with Blender, a free 3D animation program available at Blender.org.”

“Big Buck Bunny” by the Blender Foundation
(“Big Buck Bunny” can also be viewed in higher resolution here on Vimeo.)