Students learn the ropes on 3D animation short film

A group of students from the Bachelor of 3D Design and Animation worked together to create Clouds of Light, a short animated film. This film is a true blend of creativity and technical skills, where every stage – from conceptualising the story to overcoming complex animation challenges reflects the students’ hard work and dedication.

The project, created as part of the Real Time Animation Production (RTA300) subject, gave students hands-on experience in 3D animation production, from asset creation to final scene editing in a gaming engine.

With each student playing a key role in the process, they learned valuable skills such as modeling, texturing, rigging and animating, all while working with industry-standard software like Maya, Blender, Houdini and Adobe Suite.

The animation film brief and creative process

In this class, students were tasked with completing a short film, with each student taking on various 3D roles in different assessments.

For the first task, some worked on animation layout, while others focused on environment design. In the final assessment, students tackled animation and lighting. This structure lets them explore different aspects of the production process while collaborating as a team to create a cohesive final product.

“The project allowed the students to experience and explore the production process from start to finish while focusing on specific aspects of the process,” said Ivan Kintanar, the lecturer who taught the subject.

The film follows Flynn, a young boy in a post-apocalyptic world who finds comfort in his toys. His favourite toys, a robot named Avi and an aeroplane that hangs from his ceiling, become his source of joy and hope.

As the story progresses, Flynn and Avi venture into a dreamlike world, where everything feels bright and full of hope, an escape from the harsh reality. This symbolises the theme of finding light in dark situations.

Jake, one of the students who worked on the project, shared that the creative process was inspired by a previous student’s 2D illustration of the story, which they then turned into a 3D animation.

Overcoming challenges as a team

As with any ambitious project, there were plenty of challenges along the way. One of the key difficulties the students faced was continuity, according to Jake.

“Continuity was an issue that kind of crept up on the team,” he says. “In the perfect scenario, each person would ideally be communicating with the shot prior to their own.”

This experience taught them the importance of early communication to ensure seamless transitions and a consistent visual flow throughout the film.

Vivian, another student working on the film, faced a different kind of challenge when it came to creating a 3D prop, specifically the telescope.

“The hardest part was getting the correct size in Autodesk Maya,” she says.

However, she learned a valuable lesson through the experience: “Never give up on something that you are just stuck in the process... take time to think before moving forward with the next step.”

Industry-standard software application

Creating a 3D animated short requires a range of tools. From modelling to visual effects, the students used different software programs. Maya was used extensively for animation and modelling, Substance Painter helped with texturing, Houdini was utilised for visual effects, and Blender played a key role in some of the asset creation. The Adobe Suite, including After Effects and Premiere Pro, was used for compositing and editing the final film.

“I mainly used Houdini for simulations and creating render passes to be placed over the animated sequence in After Effects,” says Jake, who worked on visual effects.

“I modelled, rigged and animated Avi using Autodesk Maya and completed its textures in Adobe Substance Painter,” says Thomas, another student on the project.

Clouds of Light

After weeks of hard work, the team watched the short film come to life. The result was a beautiful, emotionally resonant animated film that showcased the power of imagination and the importance of finding hope in dark times.

For many of the students, seeing their work on screen for the first time was an incredibly rewarding experience. As Vivian reflected: “I was amazed at how everyone's skills were in working the different scenes for the animation... it was a good experience to learn about teamwork.”

What’s next?

This project didn’t just mark the end of a class – it was the beginning of a journey into the animation industry. The skills and experiences these students gained working on Clouds of Light are preparing them for future career opportunities in 3D design and animation, whether that means internships, freelance work or full-time roles in animation studios.

“I’m surprised by how well everything came together,” Jake says. “I think the unfortunate thing about being one of the artists that brought this project to life is the fact that I can spot minor issues... but that might be more of a good thing because it shows how much I’ve learned along the way.”

With a portfolio piece like Clouds of Light, these students are well on their way to becoming the next generation of 3D design and animation professionals.

Clouds of Light is more than just a short film – it’s a testament to the creativity, technical skill and teamwork that students develop during their studies in 3D Design and Animation.

Students involved in the project: Kaitlyn Brkic, Benjamin Chen, Jeisson Alexander Cruz Contreras, Anastasios Doualetas, Thomas Drewe, Emma Elliott, Jake Favotto, Juan Gerardo Gonzalez Hoyos, Justin Hanna, Yuhao Huang, Vivian Huynh, Douglas Leayr, Edric Lee, Ella Lister, Qianxun Liu, Francis Ragasa, Prasan Ratnayake, Isabelle Robertson, Haidy Silencio Rojas, Joe Stojak, Danny Taylor, Daniel Thirakul, Thuy Phuong Vu, Tarek Waleed, Xiaoyu Wang, Paris Wilson, Benjamin Wood.