The grumpy Ghost
A grumpy ghost lives in an old mansion when one day his routine is interrupted by an unexpected visit...
"The Grumpy Ghost" is a 3D animation short in which I participated during my second year as a student at U-tad. It was my first entry into an animated project. I was responsible for modeling some of the locations and objects within the mansion, as well as dressing the existing locations. I also had the opportunity, under the pretext of working on the locations, to start experimenting with some of the cameras in the final sequence, as the attic had to be set up and defined simultaneously. As a student, this experience marked a turning point for me and motivated me to embark on Luna’s development and become a filmmaker.
Breakdown by Alex Rivas
Being the rookie of a dream team
With a hint of nostalgia, Grumpy taught me valuable lessons about animation and collaboration on a project. Back then, I was a shy boy who didn't quite fit into an art school environment and I was struggling. Alex and his team, the university's most outstanding students, warmly embraced me and gave me the chance to help them finish the remaining 10 environments of the project. Fond memories linger from those days and the endless hours we dedicated during our vacations to bring the project to completion. I exerted myself to match their standards and gained insights into every department and how they interacted with each other. Rello, Hugo and Alfon taught me A LOT about design, production, pipeline, modeling and camera intention. Specially I was really inspired by Alex Relloso’s charisma and leadership, he was my master and planted the seed of Luna in me. I really tried to absorb all the goodness I saw in them.
Regrettably, we also learned that without much institutional support from school, completing a project as students, especially one without funding, proved immensely challenging. As I lived with Luna afterward, resources were limited. It's a tough lesson to deal with when we're young, and the university scene is all over the place with people having different levels of dedication and motivation. As people began to juggle other responsibilities, and with numerous fronts open, the project faced difficulties. Even though the project couldn't reach fruition, I believe what we accomplished with The Grumpy Ghost was truly exceptional. Everyone involved in the project has since evolved into remarkable professionals, and we all owe a great deal to The Grumpy Ghost. I carry all these memories with modesty and I don’t see myself being a filmmaker without this project.
Thanks to all of you guys, specially Alex and Alfon.
