Morevna: Open Source Anime Using Synfig, Blender, Gimp, and Krita

Image via Wikipedia

Most of the readers of this blog probably already know about Big Buck Bunny, Blender's open movie project codenamed Peach; some may even know about Sintel (Durian). Few, however, know about the Morevna project, an anime project dedicated to using only open-source tools in its production. From the site:

The story is based on the Russian fairy tale “Marya Morevna”. It is completely reworked to futuristic high-tech twist with a large amount of technobabble, expounded in a style specific to anime genre. 

Screenplay: Russian, English (draft translation). 

Synfig is an authoring tool designed from the ground up to do smooth animation without drawing multiple frames in between the key frames, a process called "tweening," meaning that the number of artists required to complete a major project is significantly reduced. The artist defines the position of the objects in two keyframes, chooses a path for the movement, and assigns filters or deformations, and the result is computer generated. I understand that normal anime has very few tween frames and limits motion on the screen to limit the amount of work artists have to do. Synfig's method means a smoother-looking movie with thirty frames per second and the ability to add more animated movement.

The Morevna Project also uses Blender for many of the props, such as the helicopter and the motorcycle in teh video below. I find the mix of 3D and 2D animation a little unnerving, but it is a common style these days which again, reduces the amount of time spent drawing individual frames.