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Nomad Animirani kratki film by Yetong Xin and Muwen Li

Nomad Animirani kratki film by Yetong Xin and Muwen Li is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Сребрна награда A' Design Award in Дизајн филма, видеа и анимације Competition Category.


СребрнаФилм· 2025

Nomad Animirani kratki film

by Yetong Xin and Muwen Li

Client: Reraner

Сребрна награда A' Design Award Winner in Филм Category

Colors

The Design

About Nomad Animirani kratki film

Nomad je naučnofantastični animirani kratki film o budućnosti amazonske prašume. Film prikazuje pokretni grad koji može da prenese amazonska plemena u nove naseljive oblasti kada neka lokacija više ne može da podrži ljudski život. Mašine u filmu Nomad zadržavaju mehaničku strukturu, ali su izgrađene uglavnom od prirodnih materijala umesto metala. Ovaj pristup inspirisan prirodom izbegava hladnoću tradicionalnih mašina i daje gradu osećaj vitalnosti. Prvo su napravljene skice i storibordi, a zatim su usledili modelovanje, animacija, renderovanje i kompozitovanje. Za likove je korišćena tehnologija snimanja pokreta (motion capture).

The Recognition

About the Сребрна награда A' Design Award

Nomad Animirani kratki film је добитник Сребрне награде A' Design Award, изузетно престижног признања које се додељује врхунским, предивним и импресивним дизајнима. Добитници Сребрне награде неизмерно су бриљантна и изузетно креативна дела која илуструју изузетну стручност, таленат и оштроумност својих дизајнера. Очекује се да Nomad Animirani kratki film буде дивно, узорно дело, запажено професионално и дубоко иновативно. Овај дизајн награђен Сребрном наградом A' Design Award веома је запажен, дивљен изум који користи и помера границе уметности, науке, дизајна и технологије. Nomad Animirani kratki film је творевина којој многи завиде, која буди жеље, доноси позитивна осећања и изазива чуђење и дивљење.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
The mechanical design in the video has a unique style: while it retains a mechanical structure, it primarily uses natural materials instead of metal. Through this nature inspired mechanical approach, the design aims to portray a human city that values nature, reflecting a vision for future cities—harmony between humans and the environment. This design breaks away from the coldness of traditional machinery, giving it a sense of vitality that resonates with the audience and enhances their immersive experience.
Dimensions & Packaging
4K Video. Screened on a large display.
Tags
animation, nature, scifi, emotion, future
Production Technology
First created design sketches and storyboards in Photoshop, then modeled in Blender. Used Cinema4D for scene building, animation, rendering, and simulations, and finally composited everything in After Effects. The character movements were captured using motion capture technology.
Design Challenge
The challenge was how to create a worldview that respects nature in the context of a high tech future. Many futuristic films, such as those with cyberpunk aesthetics, often depict highly mechanized cities, which conflict with the message of nature conservation the project aimed to convey. To address this issue, multiple discussions were held, ultimately leading to the adoption of a biomimetic approach, designing a city that embodies advanced technology while coexisting harmoniously with nature.
Research
This project originated from MIT Media Lab's City Science Group research on Amazonian tribes, focusing on the Amazon rainforest's decline due to human activity. Collaborating with scholars and urban designers, the team explored the tribes' beliefs, such as shamanism and totems. Their findings suggest that future Amazonian tribes may continue to respect nature and build cities that harmonize with the environment, shaping the film's worldview and production.
Inspiration
This scifi animation short was created in 2023, with a focus on environmental protection. By 2024, due to urban expansion, the forest cover in the eastern Amazon had decreased by 31 percent. This inspired the project to reflect on how humans should coexist harmoniously with nature in the future. The concept envisioned a city capable of moving freely; when a location can no longer sustain human activity, it would transport the Amazonian tribes to new habitable areas, achieving a dynamic balance of natural resources.
Project Duration
The project started in September 2023 in MIT Media Lab in Boston and finished in January 2024, and was exhibited in Brooklyn Film Festival, D ARCH Film Festival, A plus D museum in Los Angeles, and METAXIS plus PROMPT Festival in Budapest in 2024.
Operation Flow
This animation uses a widescreen cinematic aspect ratio, and the music is highly aesthetic. It is best suited for viewing in a completely dark environment, such as a cinema, with a large screen or projector. The audience will experience an immersive and ultimate audiovisual experience.
Team Members
Co Author: Muwen Li
Music: Yicheng Zhu
Music: Zuochu Liu
Sound Design: JoNine Liu
Voice: Gabriela Bila Advincula

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