CGI 3D Animated Short: 'Unfinished' - by Jakob Bartels

An unfinished creature traverses an unfinished world. The place lacks direction and he wanders aimlessly, ever pursued by the hum of predators. A light pierces the void and the unfinished hero leaves his home in the abyss. The creature is bestowed with arms, before being sent back, now able to wield the sword that has only burdened him.

Unfinished takes the traditional fantastical narrative of rebirth by passing through darkness and flips it on its head. The Unfinished Hero starts his journey already in the dark place and stays there for most of the film. His rebirth does not come from entering a darker place, but rather from entering the light.

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#VFX
#CGI
#TheCGBros
#3D
#Shortfilms
#Breakdowns
#Reels

[mouwritsbond]

Attempt to explanation (long):

The description from the designer refers to rebirth, which is often in spiritual context. To me the animation seems to represent the spritual journey.

The scene starts in a big, dark world. The creatures look like wandering souls, following only each other, depressed and aimless. A life in darkness. Plato's cave, perhaps, or something biblical in spiritual darkness, invisible to the eye, but present to the inner life of the heart.

A light appears. The light is found not only in the dark, but also in the eyes of the souls. It seems to adress something from within, as if the very essence of the creature is in the light that is revealed.
Tho the creatures don't seem to notice, our hero with the sword seems to be called to something else. The light seems inviting, strange but benevolent.

A portal opens. An unexpected streak of light seems to tear space and reveals another world. The light not only floats as an entity, but seems to be the key to another, larger, dimension. The portal that opens as high as visible, seems to allude to heaven - strengthened by the peaceful sound of water.

Now acquainted, our protagonist finds something strange in the dark world that was his initial reality. Three souls seem numbed down into lifeless stone. Three ominous pods with electronical appearence soon turn a fourth into a statue, revealing the danger of the pods. The electronic appearence may allude to the danger of modern day electronics, as Jakob Bartels states on his site that we live in a fast-paced and distracted world, to numb us down and make us immovable in our spiritual state. The light saves our hero from the danger.

In a next revalation of the other world by the light, the main character is still persued and surrounded. Once again something unexpected happens when stones in the cloudy and oceanic scene transform into a huge man. He seems to be much more full-grown, having distinguishable arms and legs. A light seems to reside in the eyes of the big creature, as by a flash the enemy balls are suddenly made lifeless -and the giant suddenly disappears, maybe having done an assignment.
The giant may in my opinion be another warrior, who is much more grown and less unfinished, also knowing the light and serving in battle.

Then the light comes close again, in the bright world as an orb. Surprising the protagonist, the orb dives into his chest, the core of its being: the light is now explicitly inside. The scene changes again, and our hero is transported back to the dark world.
The main character now has arms - it seems the proof of a change: that he is reborn.

Being reborn he can fulfil his calling, our warrior can reach his sword that he already carried with him. He wasn't meant to flee, he was meant to beat the darkness with the light and grow. What happens next in battle and to be finished in the spiritual journey will be left to your imagination.

Perhaps to be continued.

[kevinhintz]

Would love to see more films by Jakob Bartels. Loved the usage of negative space and music to tell the story.

[wolfclawz]

For the people who don't understand is because it's *Unfinished*

[Flamingerudostalion]

Incredible use of sensory "negative space, " if that makes sense, like making viewers fill in the unknown space (darkness, setting, motivations, sounds, etc.) with our own ideas. 10 outta 10 :)

[Destrosndone]

that's a very cool different version of a chosen one plot
even it's simple and mostly black, it's smooth animated and great edited
i like it a lot
and
you have something to do little guy ;)

[shredium]

I feel somewhat unfinished to comprehend every aspect of this.

[shashinism]

if you find that light, you are a warrior

[NeonsStyleHD]

Finish it1 It's a brilliant piece, almost Japanese in it's minimalism. Just finish it!

[MTMiPower]

Now that you see the light, you're able to fight?