Watch: Ultra-Realistic Sci-Fi Short ‘Flite’ Created Using Unreal Engine
by Alex Billington
December 7, 2023
Source: YouTube
“Do it again. This time so it doesn’t suck.” A remarkable proof-of-concept short film to show the incredible potential of the Unreal Engine. Of course this isn’t the first animated short film to do this, but this one does stand out. Flite is a sci-fi hyper-realistic 3D animated short film created by VFX artist Tim Webber, who also happens to be CCO of the VFX studio known as Framestore in the UK. They’ve been hyping this up all year and it’s finally online to watch. “Using state-of-the-art virtual production techniques comes one of the most technically impressive sci-fi shorts.” Set in London 2053, a world champion hoverboarder finds herself imprisoned in a skyscraper by her obsessive manager. She engineers an ingenious high-rise escape but soon finds herself riding for her life. The film features Alba Baptista as Stevie, with Gethin Anthony, Daniel Lawrence Taylor, and Hayley Carmichael. This comes from an Oscar winning VFX house so it has that near-perfect look and feel. I love that this shows how much potential hoverboards really have in the future.
Thanks to Short of the Week for the tip on this film debuting online. Story intro from YouTube: “In London 2053, a world champion hoverboarder finds herself imprisoned in a luxury skyscraper apartment by her controlling manager. With the help of a well-meaning stranger she engineers an ingenious high-rise escape but soon finds herself riding for her life.” Flite is written and directed by Tim Webber – a Welsh visual effects supervisor. He is best known for his work on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Dark Knight, Avatar, and Gravity, for which he received an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 86th Academy Awards. He is currently working for the prestigious VFX studio Framestore based in the UK as their Chief Creative Officer. Produced by Diarmid Scrimshaw and Simon Whalley. Featuring cinematography by James Medcraft, and music by Harry Escott. With animation & VFX work from Framestore. For more info on the film, visit Framestore’s site or stop by SOTW. To discover more short films, click here. What did you think?
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