Interesting work 2.

I promised to tell you of interesting work I did before (do I hear “Who cares? How's Iris Quest doing?”). Few know that I was the art director of the first Russian 3D feature animated film. It may sound cool, like “I stood at the origins of Pixar”, but it wasn't really that cool.

In 2001 I joined an animated film project at a studio that was situated in one of Russian Science Academy halls ( http://ss-op.ru/files/projs/ranbuild.jpg ). In Moscow the building is called Golden Brain or Cologne Bottle, guess why.

It's a really weirdly planned building. Sometimes, getting lost in its corridors, I was sure there was a whole conference hall with sealed doors and mummified academicians in dusty chairs.

The times were hard, many institutes and factories were renting their buildings to various owners, such as our studio.

It was situated in a room above a concert hall, where movie projectors are usually put. From my window, I could see (but not hear) concerts and academic presentations.

We were making a feature film. First based on Amazing Adventures comics, then it became a separate project.

The work was fun, but the studio's lack of experience was really fatal. At the work's beginning, I was the only person with animation education, and it was of little use as I was taught to make 2D cartoons. 3D artists were great guys, but they only worked with 3D vehicle models before, and the director had little idea of what he wants to get in the end, save for the fact it should have been a great 3D animated feature film. We all were learning, helping each other, but it was a complete chaos.

And then the director asked me why didn't I set up the task for the 3D artists (I was working with them closely because they never made 3D human model before).

I answered “It's your job. You're the director.”

He said “You don't want to work? Think you're so important? Think you're irreplaceable?”

I said “Try and replace me.”

I put all my work stuff at the table and left the studio never to enter it again.

Yes, I am rude and easy to anger. But that's not the case. I value professionality, both mine and other people's. And I think only assholes believe there are no irreplaceable specialists. Oh, there are (and I don't mean myself this time).

I enjoy working with non-professionals who try and learn. I don't enjoy working with assholes.

The film was released only in 2007. I knew nothing of that.

I found it on our food market, in a bootleg DVD shop, in a box with discounted stuff. It was called “Especial.”

My name was in the titles after the name of my assistant (she earned this, having to deal with this film 6 years after I left) and some other girl. But the design of all heroes and villains was mine. It was easy to notice. What I threw at the table when I left.

Not like it was really awesome. And the cartoon itself is, honestly, shitty. You can watch it here: http://rutube.ru/video/e3b714749638d2b03cabfa522fbf9c16/

But still, who's the art director of the first Russian 3D feature animated film?
I'm the art director of the first Russian 3D feature animated film! )