Surreal 3D Animation Flourishes as an Internet Genre
On the internet, the word 'weird' refers to strange, surreal, and nonsensical visuals that provoke reactions such as 'wtf did I just see.' A notable genre that has arisen is surreal 3D animation, showcasing hybrid creatures, disassembling forms, and absurd situations. Key figures in this field include Brian Tessler and Jon Baken from Cool 3D World, who started on Vine in 2015 before expanding to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Other notable creators are Bryan Smithee (Seinfeldspitstain) and andywilson92, while Australian artist Wendy Vainity explores different animation tools. Mainstream artists like Hito Steyerl and Jon Rafman also utilize similar methods, delving into themes of representation and the nature of humanity within digital photorealism.
Key facts
- Surreal 3D animation is a niche genre of short videos made with 3D software, defying realism and narrative logic.
- Cool 3D World, by Brian Tessler and Jon Baken, started on Vine in 2015 and spread to Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
- Seinfeldspitstain (Bryan Smithee) creates crude 3D videos with glitch aesthetics; his 'Jimmy Neutron Happy Family Happy Hour' (2013) has over 10 million views.
- andywilson92 mixes 3D and 2D in unsettling videos referencing pop culture like SpongeBob and The Simpsons.
- Wendy Vainity (madcatlady) from Adelaide, Australia, experiments with animation software, producing surrealist works blending autobiography and pop culture.
- Mainstream artists like Hito Steyerl, Jon Rafman, Ed Atkins, and Cecil B. Evans use similar 3D animation with simplified forms, robotic voices, and surreal narratives.
- The uncanny valley effect is exploited to create a sense of attraction and repulsion in human figures.
- The genre interrogates representation, truth versus falsehood, and the essence of being human in an age of digital photorealism.
Entities
Artists
- Brian Tessler
- Jon Baken
- Bryan Smithee
- Wendy Vainity
- Hito Steyerl
- Jon Rafman
- Ed Atkins
- Cecil B. Evans
- Valentina Tanni
Institutions
- Cool 3D World
- Vine
- YouTube
- Artribune
- Politecnico di Milano
- NABA
Locations
- Adelaide
- Australia