Japanese anime studio Khara moving to Blender (blender.org)

Article summary

Japanese anime studio Khara is switching to Blender, a free and open-source 3D creation software, for their primary 3D CG tool. The reason for this switch is mainly due to the high costs of their current tool, Autodesk's 3ds Max, which can be a barrier for smaller studios and freelancers they collaborate with. Khara is currently working on the film 'EVANGELION:3.0+1.0' and will use Blender for some parts of the production. The studio's decision to switch to Blender is also driven by the software's improving functionality and the potential for faster development and customization through its open-source nature.

Main themes

• 3D animation software
• Blender adoption
• Autodesk costs
• Open-source benefits
• Anime production
• Industry trends

What commenters say

• A free or low-cost version of professional 3D software like Autodesk's products would help attract and retain users, especially hobbyists and small studios.
• The cost of 3D software can be a significant barrier to entry for new artists and studios, and open-source alternatives like Blender can help level the playing field.
• The UI and functionality of Blender have improved significantly in recent versions, making it a more viable option for professional use.
• Some users believe that the difficulty of learning 3D modeling and animation software is not solely due to the UI, but also due to the complexity of the discipline itself.
• The availability of free or low-cost software can lead to a larger community of users, which in turn can drive innovation and improvement through user contributions and feedback.
• The decision to use open-source software like Blender can be driven by the potential for faster development and customization, as well as the ability to avoid vendor lock-in.
• Some commenters argue that the focus on UI and cost misses the point that 3D art and animation require a significant amount of skill and practice to master, regardless of the software used.