Making of - "Au Revoir Mon Monde"

 

To conclude their journey at the MoPA animation school, students in animation cinema are given a year to collaborate in teams to create a 3D animated short film. The 2023 class produced seven new animated films, all of which are being showcased at numerous festivals celebrating exceptional achievements in animation. We have already introduced the making of the short film "Après Papi," and today we invite you to discover the making of "Au Revoir Mon Monde."

When the end is very, very near

The film tells the story of Karim, a fish mascot for a sushi restaurant in a big city. During a break at work, a meteor suddenly appears in the sky, and he realizes that the end of the world is today. What follows is his journey through the city amidst the apocalypse, as Karim tries to say goodbye to the person he loves most in the world—all while still in his fish costume.

Astrid, Florian, Quentin, Maxime, Estelle, and Baptiste are the directors of this animated short. At the end of their fourth year of animation cinema studies, they chose their subject and formed a team to brainstorm a concrete idea before summer, which they would then fully develop during their final year in 3D animation at MoPA. From September to Christmas break, they worked on pre-production, from writing the script to storyboarding and concept art. The production phase began in January, focusing on character modeling, rigging, set design, and layouts. Finally, post-production, which included adding special effects, completed the project. The final steps were the 3D animation graduation jury and presenting the film at festivals, where "Au Revoir Mon Monde" has already been selected multiple times!

A colorful end of the world

Creating a 3D animated short as a final group project for six animation students within a short timeframe was already a huge challenge, but depicting the end of the world added another layer of complexity! The beauty of this film lies partly in how it shows the apocalypse unfolding before our eyes without fully revealing it. Key elements are meticulously selected: flying explosion debris, well-timed sound effects, and camera movements. The biggest challenge in making this short film was integrating all the software in post-production so that every element fit perfectly together.

Another goal of the directors of "Au Revoir Mon Monde" was to remain entirely credible while keeping the comedic tone they envisioned for the film. Through technical mastery, they achieved this by creating the film in traditional 3D and adding a cinematic touch with lighting, compositing, and ambiance, ultimately bringing a certain lightness with a soft, poetic aesthetic.

"Au Revoir" my studies

The making of this short film marks the end of 3D animation studies at MoPA for Astrid, Florian, Quentin, Maxime, Estelle, Baptiste, and all their classmates. Through the making-of, we see how much they learned throughout their training in 3D animation: technical knowledge, artistic culture, and the importance of sharing, whether with professional contributors or fellow students. Maxime emphasizes how crucial it was to spend these years in an environment where he could grow alongside people with similar interests, but more importantly, to develop his independence—a valuable lesson from the teaching staff, who take pride in fostering self-reliant students.

"Au Revoir Mon Monde" was presented before a jury of professionals from top 3D animation studios worldwide and at numerous festivals, providing a fantastic portfolio piece for our animation students as they enter the workforce. We congratulate our students and wish them the best as they embark on their careers, which are just beginning!

 

Watch the film trailer

 

Discover the students' interview on the 3DVF website