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RATATONY

VFX short film — Unit 7, Day 847, Last Signal

A lone robotic unit crosses a misty marsh marked by unknown organic structures and sends a last signal. A film built like a mission file: every shot is dated, located, indexed — and that HUD identity became this site's.

2:36

Context: End-of-year project — HEAJ, VFX. A 2:36 film with a 1:41 breakdown and a turntable.
Role: Everything: concept, modelling, rigging, animation, lookdev, tracking, simulations, rendering, compositing, editing, grading, soundtrack and sound design, titles.
Year: 2025 – 2026
Team: Solo
Tools: BlenderDaVinci Resolve

Watch the breakdown (1:41) ↗

Process

Step 01

Sketches and intent

Preparatory sketches: silhouette, poses, framings, logo.

Step 02

Modelling, rig and animation

Modelling and rig in Blender; rig tested in T-pose then in pose.

Mech rig in T-pose in the lookdev studio

Step 03

Lookdev and turntable

Texturing and materials validated in a neutral studio, chrome ball and colour chart.

RATATONY — turntableTC 00:00:00:0001 / 02

Chrome ball and chart in frame: light and materials are judged under controlled conditions.

Step 04

Effects research

Special effects research in Blender.

RATATONY — FX researchTC 00:00:00:00LOOP

Step 05

Simulation

The ground breaking on the weapon's impact, after the mech's jump: fracture simulation in Blender, shown here in wireframe.

RATATONY — simulationTC 00:00:00:00LOOP

Step 06

Tracking and integration

The scene is shot in a Brussels street. The camera is tracked, then the mech is integrated with shadows and reflections. The rain and some set elements are added in Blender; the smoke is added in post-production.