Similarly to my 2005 piece entitled Demographix, AE64 is a tribute to the demoscene and to the legacy of world’s most popular microcomputer: Commodore 64.

While this video was created using the typical contemporary arsenal of tools (mainly After Effects and Cinema 4D), it conforms to most of the basic graphical limitations of the C64 such as a limited 16-color palette, low resolution, use of the overscan area etc. To maintain the spirit of the demo, I also created most of the effects using various scripts and code snippets, procedurally automating many of the tasks typically animated using keyframes.

The idea for this video (or, if you prefer, a “wild demo”) came to me a few weeks ago, during the 7DX demoparty. Seeing how this nearly 30 year old system still has people coding for it, developing new tools and techniques as well as actively participating in various demo competitions – really stroke a note of nostalgia in me. I remembered my first C64, countless hours of games, graphic programs, chip tunes… I even recall creating some zine with my friends and printing it on a noisy dot matrix printer. (To be technically correct, my first computer was an Atari 65XE, but for the sake of the story, let’s ignore it.)

For the soundtrack of this piece I chose “Katana Blaster (Constantly Playing Mix)” from the album “Impostor Nostalgia” by Big Giant Circles. The piece was composed by Mick Gordon and since I pretty much had it playing on a loop for several weeks now, I simply had to use it. The song manages to beautifully mix the classic chip tune sounds with contemporary electronic vibes and dubstep rhythm – and Mick was kind enough to give me the rights to use it for this video.

To learn more about Mick Gordon and his music, visit his site at: mick-gordon.com.

If you ever owned a C64, I am sure you will enjoy this piece. Happy new year!

Concept, Design, Animation & Scripting: Quba Michalski
Music: Mick Gordon
Tools: After Effects, Cinema 4D

This video can also be viewed on YouTube

Not too long ago, these were referred to as simply “cool animated gifs”. These days they go by much more artsy name of Cinemagraphs.

In the picture: ZX Spectrum microcomputer, an Italian analogue sound mixer and a National TV set. Only TV still works. Image brought to life in After Effects.

PS. Yea, I just realized these are called Cinemagraphs, not Cinegraphs. Corrected the spelling throughout the post.

Here is my personal reel for June 2011, featuring commercial and independent pieces I have directed, edited, animated and designed in the recent years.

Music composed by Joel Nielsen.

This video can also be watched on YouTube.

Recently, I have been accused of over-using lens flares in many of my latest projects. To all you flare nay-sayers: This one is for you :)

Macula Lutea started as a happy accident – I’ve been working on one of the projects and wrote a small script to control the movement of the lens flare. Due to the calculation error (my bad) the light source ended up in completely wrong spot, resulting in highly exaggerated flare on the screen. Rather than discard the mistake, I decided to pursue intentionally misusing flares and discovered an entire world of cool abstract imagery that can be created in this style.

At the same time I stumbled upon an audio track U Smile (800% Slower) in which composer Nick Pittsinger stretched and slowed down Justin Bieber‘s song U Smile, resulting in amazing half-hour ambient piece. It was also a perfect match for my visuals.

Due to the busy schedule, the project waited for completion for a few months – I have completely forgotten about it and discovered it today while cleaning up my hard drive :)

Yes, you have just witnessed me linking to the official website of Justin Bieber.

Credits:
Directed and Animated by: Quba Michalski
Audio: Nick Pittsinger, based on a song by Justin Bieber

This video can also be watched on YouTube.

Liquid Lifeforms is a short experiment in Cinema 4D softbody dynamics. Visuals were inspired and edited to the audio track Beazt, created by disconnectuser (Alan Pring).

After countless commercial productions, where the result needs to feel pretty and appealing to the viewer, I felt an urge to create something a bit more disturbing. I wanted to approach the animation in the same way I would approach a live animatronic shoot. To achieve that, I constructed two rigid body robots, controlled by a bunch of randomized motors and set them lose in C4D’s dynamics engine. I then wrapped the resulting animation in a softbody, latex-like skin and run a second level simulation.

The process resulted in a creepy, realistic motion – part mechanical and part organic. I cut everything together in After Effects with some extra color correction and distortions. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the audio track of this piece, you may consider purchasing the entire 2 minute track it as a digital single from disconnectuser at: http://disconnectuser.bandcamp.com/album/beazt-single.

Credits:
Directed, Animated, Edited & VFX by: Quba Michalski
Audio: disconnectuser

This video can also be watched on YouTube.

Here comes another improvised collaboration between me and Bora. I had some more shots from the previous set and decided to put together this little cheerful St. Valentine’s day piece for all of you.

Most of the work was done in After Effects, with the exception of the 3D heart, created in Cinema 4D. With love,

Credits:
Directed, Edited & VFX by: Quba Michalski
Director of Photography: Bora Sübakan
Music by: Pogo

This video can also be watched on YouTube.

It’s been a slow day today, one of those in-between-projects times that are too short to start a new tutorial, but too long to let it go to waste. I woke up late to the sound of cars crossing the Istanbul bridge.

I remembered how quiet and peaceful this city can be at dawn, and decided to capture that feeling. Fortunately I had quite a few great shots taken by Bora Sübakan a few weeks ago. I put on some music and started editing and compositing. 9 hours later I had this:

Credits:
Directed, Edited & VFX by: Quba Michalski
Director of Photography: Bora Sübakan
Music by: Machine Drum

This video can also be watched on YouTube.

Hot on the heels of yesterday’s address change, I am happy to present you with the latest reel of imago studios, closing down year 2010. Not much to talk about here – press play, sit back and enjoy.

imago is:
Quba Michalski: Director, Motion Designer
Cigdem Keresteci: Art Director, Graphic Artist

The reel is also available for download in either 720p MP4 or iPhone format. You can also view it at imago site and YouTube.

Visit imago studios at http://helloimago.com/.

The project I am working on at the moment kept me out of the studio for most of the time recently. While I was away though, I did not want the computers to stay idle, so I set up some calculation-intensive experiments to render during my absence. Here’s one of them.

I have come across a fantastic Cinema 4D plugin called Xbreaker created by pariah Studios. It allows you to shatter pretty much any geometry into tiny pieces with just a few clicks. Add some physics, shaders, a bit of post in After Effects – and you got yourself a nice little visual experiment.

The thing took forever-and-then-some to render, mainly due to my lack of knowledge in render optimization. Still, I think it was better than having the computers off.

Good Times with Xbreaker (click to play)

Music by Nine Inch Nails (Track 9 from the album Ghosts I).

Download Xbreaker (32 and 64 bit):
http://www.pariahstudios.co.uk/xbreaker/

The video is also available at Vimeo and YouTube.

I am currently working on the new reel for imago and while digging in the project archives I came across this this test render for One Man Show – a piece I made back in 2008. Using Trapcode Particular and three Photoshop layers I created a large scale meadow that, honestly speaking, didn’t get enough exposure in the finished piece.

Grass Field with Trapcode Particular (click to play)

If you were hoping for the new QubaHQ tutorial this weekend, you will need to wait just a bit more. I am bit busy with the projects at the moment, plus it’s over 32°C and humid in here at the moment, making my brain melt from the heat.