Brian Williams Creates Animated Film Using Cinema 4D

Animator Brian Williams has single-handedly created the short film "Botching," which explores a dystopian future where hacked robots perform everyday tasks. Williams utilized Maxon's Cinema 4D software along with several Red Giant plugins for the production.

The film follows a hacked robot through a gritty, complex city, featuring a gold heist that utilizes London's Underground for transporting loot. Williams' inspiration stemmed from his fascination with the London Underground and articles on robot hacking, leading to the film's term "botching." He combined this with historical accounts of gold being moved via the Tube during WWII.

Williams, with a background in graphic design and commercials directing, returned to animation at the onset of the pandemic to avoid travel. He used the "Botching" project as an opportunity to re-familiarize himself with Cinema 4D and advanced animation processes after a significant gap.

The workflow involved creating all 3D animation within Cinema 4D, followed by editing and finishing in Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects. Notably, Red Giant tools such as Magic Bullet Looks and Colorista were employed for color grading and maintaining a consistent aesthetic. Real Lens Flares, Universe HUD Components, and Universe Camera Shake were used for visual effects and adding realism.

Williams rendered all scenes himself using his home computers and affordable render farms, allowing for an extended development period. The final visual style is largely black and white, intended to reduce the CG appearance and draw focus to the narrative.