Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the innovative approach of "fully cloud-based production" in the animation film industry, exemplified by the original animated film "The Time Traveler," which achieved over 100 million in box office revenue during the Dragon Boat Festival despite lacking a major IP or renowned director. This method addresses significant challenges in traditional animation production, such as environmental fragmentation, inefficient data transmission, and computational bottlenecks [2][3][4]. Group 1: Challenges in Traditional Animation Production - Traditional animation production faces three main challenges: environmental fragmentation, inefficient data transmission, and computational bottlenecks. The current mainstream model involves multiple teams working across various locations, leading to significant discrepancies in local environments [3][4]. - Data transmission issues are prevalent, with large files often being compressed or delayed, which can impact project timelines. For instance, a 50GB model file can be reduced to 10GB for email transmission, risking errors upon decompression [4]. - The computational demands for rendering are substantial, with complex scenes potentially requiring days of rendering time on local machines. The film "The Time Traveler" consists of 2,336 shots and 97,234 production tasks, highlighting the need for efficient computational resources [4]. Group 2: Advantages of Fully Cloud-Based Production - Fully cloud-based production resolves these issues by providing a unified environment where all teams use standardized software and tools, significantly reducing setup time. For example, a supplier was able to start working on the cloud the same day as the kickoff meeting, submitting their first shot just three days later [5]. - The centralized computational power allows for rapid processing of tasks that previously took hours on local machines. For instance, complex effects that once required hours of local rendering can now be processed in just half an hour on the cloud [5][6]. - The iterative capabilities of cloud production enable real-time data sharing, allowing teams to work concurrently rather than sequentially, thus enhancing the creative process and allowing for more extensive revisions [6]. Group 3: Future Implications and Industry Impact - The success of "The Time Traveler" demonstrates the replicability of cloud production, with plans to promote this model in future projects, particularly those requiring extensive collaboration among multiple teams [7]. - The cloud production model is expected to become a foundational infrastructure for the animation industry, reducing costs and increasing efficiency for smaller teams that previously had to invest heavily in equipment and software [7][8]. - The Chinese animation market is projected to reach 742.54 billion by 2024, accounting for 28% of the global market, with the potential for further growth to 3,595.42 billion by 2030. The widespread adoption of cloud production could help Chinese animation align technologically with international standards [8].
抛弃大铁笼“锁电脑”,《时间之子》国产动画电影的“全云制作”实践