Kaena

[MikeV]

Some years ago, I learned of and purchased a movie called Kaena. It was made by an independent studio and began its life, as I recall, as an opening cinematic for a game. At some point along the way, they decided to make it a full-length movie instead.

 

It was done entirely in 3DSMax, and you can see how the animation is a bit rough in spots, but overall, I think it's a great example of what can be done by a small-ish team of people, without some huge Hollywood budget to work with. Though they did get some good voice acting for it. Of course the Oz series of movies done with A:M are other good examples.

 

It's not a "masterpiece" by any means, but it's an enjoyable movie with a neat storyline, a pretty unique setting, and some interesting character/creature design. My opinion anyway .

 

[Gerry]

I do remember the trailer for "Kaena" from about 10 years ago, and being impressed by it. It looked good enough that I thought it was just a matter of time before it was in theatres, but then it disappeared until I saw it on the shelf of a video store (hey, remember video stores?) around 2004, but it was before we owned a dvd player, so I thought, well I'll have to pick it up sometime. And that's the last I heard of it until now.

 

So, one of these days...!

[MikeV]

I do remember the trailer for "Kaena" from about 10 years ago, and being impressed by it. It looked good enough that I thought it was just a matter of time before it was in theatres, but then it disappeared until I saw it on the shelf of a video store (hey, remember video stores?) around 2004, but it was before we owned a dvd player, so I thought, well I'll have to pick it up sometime. And that's the last I heard of it until now.

 

So, one of these days...!

 

Yeah, it's a pretty decent movie. I watch it every now and again, and I think I'm actually due for another viewing, come to think of it.

 

If you do get it, make sure to check out the "Extras". They have a "live action" interview with Kaena, and I think the lip-syncing and personality and such of her in that interview is better than anything in the movie.

[robcat2075]

I dimly recall buzz about that, things like that may have been part of what encouraged us to try TWO.

 

But "Kaena" had a substantial crew and budget. 22 animators and animation supervisors! We never had that.

 

I'll put it on my netflix queue and give it a look.

[Gerry]

btw I think that trailer is different from the one I saw years ago, so there may be others floating around.

[MikeV]

I dimly recall buzz about that, things like that may have been part of what encouraged us to try TWO.

 

But "Kaena" had a substantial crew and budget. 22 animators and animation supervisors! We never had that.

 

I'll put it on my netflix queue and give it a look.

 

Indeed, they did have a larger team, especially as they got into it. I think they started off pretty small, with just a few people. But then as the project gained momentum, they had to build up the team.

 

I really like the "sap" effect on those characters, how they have that constant flowing/shimmering appearance to them. Very cool effect.

[MMZ_TimeLord]

I had that movie on DVD. Loaned it to a co-worker about five years ago... never got it back. *sigh*

 

I've been itching to see it again. Pretty good animation for it's time and a good story to boot.

 

Now I'll have to search for it again.

[robcat2075]

You can watch it free (with commercials) on Youtube

 

http://www.youtube.com/movie?v=U1nuam1gjSk&feature=mv_sr

 

 

The blurb says it had a budget of $26 Million. That is substantial. That's low for an American big studio CG feature, typically $75M - $180M, but that would be a large budget for most European movies. And consider that there is currently a hit movie out, "Magic Mike" that had a budget of $7M.

 

It is very hard to make the numbers work for independent animation.

[MikeV]

You can watch it free (with commercials) on Youtube

 

http://www.youtube.com/movie?v=U1nuam1gjSk&feature=mv_sr

 

 

The blurb says it had a budget of $26 Million. That is substantial. That's low for an American big studio CG feature, typically $75M - $180M, but that would be a large budget for most European movies. And consider that there is currently a hit movie out, "Magic Mike" that had a budget of $7M.

 

It is very hard to make the numbers work for independent animation.

 

Wow, that is pretty steep. More than I would have imagined. Maybe I'm mis-remembering the details from "the making of" bit... lol. I could swear I remember a theme throughout it being how it was really an uphill battle for them, smaller team, first time working on something of that scope, didn't have all the tools available to them of a bigger studio, etc.

 

Or maybe I'm confusing that with another CG animated movie I've seen.

 

Ah, who cares? lol It's a neat movie regardless.

[robcat2075]

I could swear I remember a theme throughout it being how it was really an uphill battle for them, smaller team, first time working on something of that scope, didn't have all the tools available to them of a bigger studio, etc.

 

Probably every movie starts out as a dream with a small pre-production crew who write and design and storyboard.

 

 

Ultimately there's a reason Pixar needs 1000 employees to get one movie out a year, I think.

 

 

$26 million is still "small" but it's not five guys in a garage.