When it comes to design, non-professionals, as well as our readers, can usually admire finished works and not the digital equipment used to produce them. One of these tools helping workflow of more than 80,000 motion graphics artists is Cinema 4D, a 3D modeling, animation and rendering software developed by company delivering professional rendering solutions, MAXON Computer from Germany. The latest release R18 of software used by companies like 20th Century Fox, BBC, Apple, Intel, LG, Walt Disney, Pixar, BMW, Dior, as well as Grey and Ogilvy, and many more, intends to make VFX workflow accessible to everyone.

How do you introduce such release? With a short playful film portraying nature, animals, and conflict called characteristically Versus. The short film was created by design and motion studio awarded with D&AD Black Pencil and Cannes Gold Lion, ManvsMachine, and a Lead 3D artist, Fred Huergo who developed “the lighting style, many of the shaders, and also worked on animation, compositing and the final grading – as these elements were paramount in establishing the look, feel, and mood of the film.”

The showcase piece was produced with tools that had never been used before and shows how the studio elaborated on their name, ManvsMachine, and evolved it to a battle of nature VS structure, then form VS function and ultimately to a clash of beautifully animated animals. The charismatic film is split into 4 chapters – introduction of the animal characters, their patterns, a hero battle and finally a piñata-like deconstruction.

The program gives its users, ranging from game designers to visualization professionals, chance to enjoy new opportunities (e.g. new Fracture tool) and helps elevate their skills to another level. You can watch the highlights of Maxon cinema 4D release of R18 here and the making of Versus below.

Credits:
Concept, Design & Direction: ManvsMachine
Client: Maxon
Audio: Resonate