AI TOOLS
Breadcrumb Orchestra is a short film intended to push the limits of current generation tools in 3d animation style. In order to ground the film, the locations are all real places, adapted to match the period and style that we developed. Featuring an original script, characters and animation style, the film pushes the boundaries of what is possible to achieve in a technology driven workflow.
Breadcrumb Orchestra
Animated Short Film
Script & Concept
A short script was written with a few simple rules: The film should take place in a real location and shots would be storyboarded and tested as if in a traditional film workflow.
Character Design
We researched various different animation and illustration styles, settling on a textured 3d look, not dissimilar to a Pixar animation. Character references were collected and various generation tools were used to create, amend and perfect our central character. Custom models were then trained on this imagery to ensure that characters would stay consistent throughout the various stages of generation.
Location Scouting & Design
Google Maps was used to remotely scout locations where the story could take place and the Castro Theatre area of San Fransisco was chosen. Generative tools and stock photography from the 1970’s were used to adapt the location images into period correct format, removing all modern cars and traffic insignia. These images were then adapted to match the chosen animation style, and a cache of real world, period accurate location concept images were created.
Storyboarding & Key Image Generation
Just like any traditional production process, storyboards were drawn out and a working shot list was drafted. We used our character designs, location images as well as a plethora of sourced reference images to prompt the generation of key images from the storyboards. These were developed, expanded and fed back into the shot list to create a still image animatic that was the basis of the video generations. Custom models are used to ensure both consistency of style, locations and characters.
Video Generation
Utilizing the key images as “start frames” for each shot, video generation tools were exhaustively tested to find the best match for our animation style. Versions of shots were iterated, adapted, redrafted and perfected until we had video clip counterparts to our scripted storyboards.
Post Production
Traditional post production was then completed. with the generated clips going through edit, sound design and score before proprietary techniques were used in the color grade to ensure perfect shot matching, and a creative look that enhances the inherent look of AI generated footage.
