NO NEED TO RUSH LIFE

§ Project Description

This was the biggest project I have undertaken so far at the University of Applied Sciences Salzburg. It is the first of three projects I am required to deliver during my three years of studying MultiMediaArt. "NO NEED TO RUSH LIFE" was originally planned as a previsualization, but even before starting, I realized that with a bit of extra effort, I could turn it into a fully completed animated short.

The idea for this project had been on my list for over a year, and I was determined to make it happen. I wanted to seize the opportunity to have some fun and explore my creativity while I still could. The short film tells the story of a driver navigating the Austrian alpine roads who ignores every road sign—ultimately leading to him driving off a cliff.

I received some much-appreciated help with the sound design and music. A huge thanks to Kilian Konz for his professionalism in composing the music and bringing all my ideas to life. I'm also grateful to Stefan Wolf for helping me create the satisfying gear-shift sound using his car.

§ Concept

The idea for the film came to me quite early. I was driving on the freeway when I came across multiple signs on the side of the road. I thought, "What if I drove so fast that the signs would almost feel like an animated movie?" Following this thought, I quickly sketched a short animated sequence to get a sense of the narrative and overall feel. This became the first previs for the movie.

§ Process

The project began with extensive storyboarding and previsualization to establish the pacing and visual rhythm. I focused on creating a seamless flow from the initial driving sequence through to the dramatic conclusion. The 3D environments were built in Blender and Houdini, with particular attention to the Austrian alpine landscape and realistic road infrastructure. Sound design played a crucial role in immersing the audience in the driving experience, from engine sounds to the atmospheric mountain ambience.

§ Technical Breakdown

The animation pipeline involved extensive use of Houdini for procedural environment generation and Blender for detailed modeling and animation. The car rigging system was designed to handle realistic physics-based movement while maintaining artistic control over the dramatic moments. Nuke was used for compositing multiple render layers and adding atmospheric effects that enhanced the mountainous setting. The final edit in Premiere Pro synchronized the visual narrative with Kilian's musical composition and our custom sound design elements.

§ Learnings

Technical Skills

○ Advanced 3D Modeling and Environment Creation
○ Houdini Smoke Simulation and Procedural Workflows
○ 3D Animation and Character/Vehicle Rigging
○ Professional Sound Design and Audio Post-Production

Project Management

○ Long-form project planning and execution
○ Collaboration with sound designers and composers
○ Balancing creative vision with technical constraints
○ Iterative development from previs to final product