South Korean 3D artist Kyungrae Yu takes Stash fans into the process behind his new short film, an atmospheric and unapologetic ode to the style and enduring emotional power of vehicles powered by internal combustion engines.

Kyungrae Yu: “As a 3D artist specialized in Cinema 4D and Octane Render, I had concerns about handling the extensive and intense FX effects required for this film. The project features dense and expansive scenes and maintaining quality while ensuring efficiency was crucial – and since the film was rendered in 4K, attention to detail became even more critical.

“Initially, I considered using plugins like Pyro or Turbulence FD in Cinema 4D for FX, but I realized that Houdini offered both quality and time-saving benefits. I reached out to Intae Jang, one of the top Houdini artists in South Korea, proposing a collaboration.
 

“The project features dense and expansive scenes and maintaining quality while ensuring efficiency was crucial – and since the film was rendered in 4K, attention to detail became even more critical.”

 
“Water and smoke simulations played a significant role and given the fast-paced nature of the film, synchronizing our workflow was challenging. In some cases, we composited Houdini FX in After Effects, blending them with various 3D passes. Camera movement was also crucial for achieving realism akin to actual filming. I utilized Cinema 4D’s Motion Cam feature, referencing real car footage to capture authentic details.

“However, one critical element was missing from our film: the sound design. I reached out to Echoic Audio, who I’ve long admired, and shared my introduction, portfolio, and the style frames and low-res renders. Fortunately, they expressed interest in collaborating. We aimed to capture the rough exhaust sounds of cars, gradually building tension until the climax.”

Watch the making-of video:
 

 
 

 
Director/animator: Kyungrae Yu
FX Design: Intae Jang

Music/sound design: Echoic Audio

Toolkit: Cinema 4D, Octane render, After Effects, Houdini