One of the most interesting panels held today 2 June on the occasion of Cartoons on the Bay 2023 it was certainly the one dedicated to “Unreal Engine, a meeting point between videogames and animation”, where the innovation brought about by the best known and most used graphics engine in the world both in the videogame and animation fields was discussed. Moderated by Marco Accordi Rickards (director of the Vigamus Foundation, GamesVillage and Game Pro) e Federica Pazzanothis very interesting panel has welcomed among its speakers Joan Da Silva (Unreal Engine Educator Advisor, Epic Games), Maurice Forestieri (President, Graphilm Entertainment), Mihoko Soulie (Line Producer, Cyber Group Studios).
Marco Accordi Rickards (who is also part) of the editorial committee of Cartoons on The Bay and Advisor for the Interactive Animation section, opened the panel by emphasizing the importance of using new technologies in cross-media mode, describing the infinite potential of an engine such as Unreal Engine, designed for interactive works, in a use in the new production frontiers but also in the traditional frontiers.
The first panelist to be introduced was Joan da Silva, Education Advisor per Epic Games. da Silva works with schools, public institutions and development studios to ensure professional training in line with the requirements of cross-media products and the market, challenging the gap between animation and video games in the production pipeline. In his speech he said that Unreal Engine was designed for teamwork and for videogame products, but the application in the field of animation is excellent for the integration of real-time and the possibility of animating with integrated elements such as the background. It offers a different production method compared to traditional animation methods, but increasingly enhanced. Therefore, his words are a warning and will certainly encourage the use of Unreal Engine outside the gaming industry.
Maurice Forestieri then took the floor, presentato l’action-comedy Alex Player, the first animation program for children on the theme of Esports created using a mixed technique of avant-garde 2D, CG and real-time thanks to Unreal Engine (first of the projects co-produced in 2022 by Cyber Group Studios and Graphilm Entertainment, commissioned by France Télévisions and by Rai Ragazzi). The ability to view the settings and details of the animated product in the early stages of production is therefore tested in Alex Player in a new way of working.
As he said instead Mihoko Soulie of Cyber Group Studios, many problems emerged in the pre-rendering of animation products such as not being able to immediately view the details. However, Unreal Engine has made the production process more fluid, limiting or in some cases by circumventing these problems. Also from the point of view of the professionals in charge of creating the concept storyboard, the possibility of using this software for the creation of the same has been revolutionary in terms of timing and professionalisation.
“There are not many artists and Animation Artists currently working in Unreal, and it is a constant challenge that will certainly create new specialized professional figures.”
Robert Forestieri underlined with great enthusiasm the revolutionary aspect of this new production method guaranteed by Unreal Engine (which we remind you has reached its fifth version, Unreal Engine 5), above all from the point of view of project management and the possibility of reviewing content or request changes in real time, effectively reducing production time exponentially.
The application and use of Unreal Engine outside of video game development therefore, as emerged from the panel held at Cartoons on the Bay 2023, is not only possible but it brings benefits and productivity improvements which will surely arouse the attention of small and large companies.
