And Now For Something Completely Machinima

This week, the discussion centres on several significant developments across the machinima community, from community news and preservation of machinima history to new creative tools and the future of filmmaking platforms. The strongest recurring theme is how classic machinima practices are re-emerging through contemporary game engines and software, suggesting a renewed interest in machinima as a creative medium.

The episode opens with a tribute to Mike Joyce, longtime collaborator of Kate Fosk and member of the Moviestorm-era machinima community. The hosts reflect on his generosity, his contribution to Machinima Expo productions, and the supportive nature of earlier...

Featured Film: Severance Opening Titles Recreated in Portal by Brian Kissig

This episode explores an exceptional reinterpretation of the title sequence from Severance, recreated using Portal assets in Unreal Engine and Cinema 4D. Rather than simply assessing the technical achievement, the discussion develops into a broader conversation about adaptation, symbolism, machinima as an artistic practice, and the relationship between filmmaking and game-making.

Phil introduces the film as a painstaking recreation of the Severance opening titles, explaining that although it uses Portal assets, it extends well beyond simple gameplay capture. He highlights...

This week, Phil takes the crew on an unexpected tour through the strange and rapidly evolving world of TikTok, presenting a curated compilation of game-inspired videos that blur the boundaries between machinima, gameplay, performance and digital art. Rather than searching for polished cinematic productions, the discussion explores the platform's distinctive culture of short-form creative expression, where humour, experimentation and disposable entertainment coexist with moments of genuine artistic innovation.

Ricky and Damien join Phil to examine the compilation, discussing everything from live-action recreations of video game scenarios and AI NPC comedy to intricate gameplay demonstrations that resemble elaborate...

This episode explores how independent horror filmmaking is reshaping the future of machinima and virtual production. Ricky reflects on his experience at StokerCon, discussing the remarkable quality and originality of contemporary short horror films, the growing influence of YouTube creators such as the makers of Backrooms and Obsession, and why horror remains one of the most effective genres for expressing contemporary anxieties. The panel considers what these developments mean for machinima creators as Hollywood increasingly looks to online filmmakers for fresh ideas and talent.

The featured film is Anthem (2001) by Julien Vanhoenacker, an early real-time animated short...

In this episode of And Now For Something Completely Machinima, Tracy Harwood, Phil Rice and Damien Valentine examine Stolen, a 30-minute GTA V machinima by Dark Frame Films (Kevin Fernandez, aka Shepherd41). Set in a near-future world where consciousness can be transferred between bodies through the mysterious "Rebirth Project," the film follows former soldier John Bell on a relentless quest to recover his daughter's stolen body and restore her consciousness.

The discussion explores the film's ambitious blend of cyberpunk worldbuilding, transhumanist philosophy, revenge-thriller storytelling and cinematic action choreography. The hosts consider how themes of identity, bodily ownership...

In this news-focused episode of And Now For Something Completely Machinima, Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood and Damien Valentine dive into the latest developments in gaming, machinima, AI, and virtual production. The discussion ranges from the ethics of digitally resurrecting iconic figures like Stan Lee, through major announcements from Summer Game Fest, to upcoming machinima competitions and the evolving role of AI in creative practice. Along the way, the team debates the future of social media, the impact of government regulation on emerging creators, and whether AI is a creative tool, a creative shortcut, or something in between.

01:25 – Ri...

This week on And Now For Something Completely Machinima, Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood and Damien Valentine dive into Michael Is Very Vintage’s hilarious Garry’s Mod space comedy An Astounding Tale from Outer Space. What begins as a simple spaceship emergency quickly spirals into absurdity when an incompetent captain decides that cloning himself is a better solution than actually fixing the problem.

The team explores the film’s brilliant use of slapstick comedy, satirical storytelling, inventive sound design, and surprisingly sophisticated filmmaking craft. From Alien and Red Dwarf influences to hidden Easter eggs, classic action-movie tropes...

What happens when machinima stops telling a story… and instead pulls you inside a fractured mind?

In this episode of And Now For Something Completely Machinima, hosts Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, and Damien Valentine dive deep into “Dysfunction” by Iono Allen—a powerful, unsettling machinima film created in Second Life.

This isn’t your typical machinima. There’s no clear beginning, middle, or end—just a visceral, abstract experience of psychological breakdown, sensory overload, and emotional fragmentation.

Is it about mental health? Substance abuse? Political disillusionment? Or something even darker?

👀 Wat...

In this episode of And Now For Something Completely Machinima, hosts Phil Rice, Damien Valentine, and Tracy Harwood dive deep into “Wracu”, a stunning student film by Chase McGill.

Created in Blender as a final project at University of Southern California, this cinematic short blends epic fantasy, motion capture, and orchestral scoring into a powerful (and divisive!) storytelling experience.

But is it just visually impressive… or truly great storytelling? 🤔

🔥 What We Cover in This Episode

In this episode of And Now For Something Completely Machinima, hosts Phil Rice, Damien Valentine, and Tracy Harwood dive into a stunning fan-made cinematic created inside Star Wars Battlefront II (2017 video game).

We explore how machinima creators are pushing the limits of game engines, modding tools, and cinematic language to produce high-quality storytelling—despite technical limitations like no built-in camera controls. From Cloud City aesthetics to editing techniques and Star Wars authenticity, this episode unpacks what makes this project so impressive (and occasionally hilarious).

Whether you're into machinima, virtual production, or the Star Wars un...

In this episode, we dive into Automation Situation 2: Too Little, Too Late by Guillaume H @thegiom — a haunting, AI-driven short film presented as a 1930s educational reel. 

Is this clever satire… or a chilling glimpse of our future with AI? 

We explore how this unsettling film blends retro aesthetics, machinima-style workflows, and AI-generated imagery to question human agency, automation, and the emotional cost of technological progress. 

⏱ Key Moments & Timestamps 
01:00 – What is Automation Situation 2? 
01:43 – Why this film fits today’s AI conversation 
03:06 – Strange coincidence: all picks reflect humanity 
03:30 – The filmmaker & AI creative process 

In this episode of Now For Something Completely Machinima, we dive into a fascinating review of The Egg — a thought-provoking short story by Andy Weir, brought to life through machinima animation by Anima Technica.

With Project Hail Mary dominating conversations, we explore how this earlier work connects to Weir’s storytelling style — blending philosophy, theology, and surprising humour.

🎙️ Featuring Damien Valentine, Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, and voice acting insights from Ricky Grove, this episode unpacks themes of reincarnation, cosmic identity, and the deeper meaning of existence — all through the lens of machinima filmmaking.

🔑 Topic...

In this episode of And Now For Something Completely Machinima, Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, and Damien Valentine dive into the latest news in machinima, virtual production, AI creative tools, game cinematics, and real-time animation.

They discuss the explosive hype around Kane Parsons’ The Backrooms movie, new Starfield expansions and what they could mean for Starfield machinima, the release of Fortnite Star Wars assets for fan-made experiences, and useful production updates including DaVinci Resolve optimisation, Headshot 3, free mocap tools, and local AI voice cloning.

The conversation also takes a deeper turn with a thoughtful de...

Dive into one of the most unsettling and artistically ambitious machinima films we’ve ever reviewed. In this episode of Now For Something Completely Machinima, we explore “The Murderer” by Yago Muriel — a haunting black-and-white psychological horror created in Garry's Mod that blends surrealism, classic cinema, and existential dread.

With clear influences from David Lynch, The Outer Limits, and Hitchcock-era filmmaking, this film transforms a humble game engine into something deeply disturbing, poetic, and unforgettable. Expect eerie bird motifs, ambiguous storytelling, and a shocking twist that lingers long after the credits.

If you love psychological horror...

In this episode of Completely Machinima Reviews, Damien Valentine, Ricky Grove, Phil Rice, and Tracy Harwood discuss Eater, a character vignette of a larger work (Hate Speech). The film is a provocative experimental short by M (formerly M dot Strange), created using Nightmare Puppeteer. The conversation explores machinima, AI-generated voices, Unreal/indie animation tools, absurd humor, avant-garde filmmaking, and the film’s sharp social commentary on junk food, global warming, and corporate culture.

This is a deep dive into one of the most unusual works in experimental digital cinema—touching on ragdoll physics, AI animation workflows, satire in m...

In this episode of Completely Machinima, Phil, Tracy, and Damien dive into “Wallace Breen’s Day Off” — a chaotic, meme-filled Garry’s Mod machinima that embraces absurdity, cartoon violence, and old-school Source Engine humor.

From immature internet antics to Robot Chicken-style sketch comedy, the team explores how this short transforms one of Half-Life’s most sinister villains into a hilariously pathetic bureaucrat just trying to enjoy his day off.

Along the way, they unpack its Sopranos-inspired ending, hidden easter eggs, and how it reflects both the roots and evolution of machinima as a creative med...

In this episode of the Completely Machinima Podcast, we dive into Hostiles — a stunning Half-Life-inspired machinima short that pushes the boundaries of virtual production, animation, and storytelling.

Originally believed to be created in Source Filmmaker, this cinematic piece was actually made in Garry’s Mod, challenging assumptions about tools, quality, and creativity in the machinima community.

We explore how Hostiles achieves cinematic tension through lighting, sound design, camera work, and animation, while also discussing its deeper impact on perspective, narrative, and audience expectations.

🔥 If you're into machinima, game filmmaking, or virtual cinematography, this ep...

Can Starfield become the next great machinima platform? In this episode of the Completely Machinima Podcast, the team breaks down a fascinating Starfield mod trailer that mixes machinima, virtual production, gameplay cinematics, sci-fi mystery, and mod storytelling.

Damien Valentine brings in “Farseer,” a Starfield mod trailer that feels bigger than a simple showcase — part trailer, part cinematic, part environmental story. Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, and Ricky Grove unpack what works, what doesn’t, and why Starfield’s modding ecosystem could be a huge opportunity for the future of machinima filmmaking.

The discussion covers Starfield mods, cinematic...

What happens when real-time graphics stop trying to impress technically and start feeling like cinema? In this episode of And Now For Something Completely Machinima, Phil Rice, Ricky Grove, Tracy Harwood and Damien Valentine explore “Nine” (IX) by Moppi Productions - a landmark 2003 demoscene work that bridges machinima, digital art and real-time filmmaking.

⏱ Chapters -
0:00 Intro
1:01 Welcome & episode overview
2:01 What is the demoscene? (Nine introduction)
8:16 Why Nine is so significant
13:15 How it broke demoscene conventions
17:27 Visual style, pacing & minimalist design
22:30 Art vs technical performance debate
26:03 Demoscene vs machinima
28:49 Story...

What happens when a Twitch streamer can’t talk about a game because of an NDA… so they recreate the experience inside another MMO instead?

In this episode of Now For Something Completely Machinima, Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, and Damien Valentine unpack a bizarre, brilliant, and surprisingly cinematic machinima created in Final Fantasy XIV that channels the mood of Dune, social media culture, and fan-driven storytelling.

From desert sandworms to a surprise Harkonnen rap battle, this piece blends machinima, AI-assisted music, fan cinema, and musical narrative into something that feels less like gameplay and...

In Episode 217 of And Now for Something Completely Machinima, we explore “Ersatz” a haunting new solo animated film by Saint Greaver created in Blender’s Eevee engine. Set within a surreal World War I–inspired landscape, the film blends virtual production techniques with painterly concept art aesthetics to create a disturbing, dreamlike vision of war, identity, and memory.

The discussion unpacks the film’s themes of replaceability, dehumanization, and institutional machinery, where bodies are interchangeable and suffering becomes routine. Drawing on cultural memory, surrealist art traditions, and early industrial warfare imagery, the episode examines how the film commu...

In this episode of Completely Machinima, Damien Valentine, Tracy Harwood, and Phil Rice unpack the biggest talking points at the intersection of machinima, AI, and creator rights.

We start with a quick birthday nod to id Software’s 35th anniversary—a foundational influence on game culture and the machinima scene—before diving into the headline debate: the Disney + OpenAI partnership. Tracy breaks down why Disney choosing licensing over litigation is a major signal for how entertainment giants may handle AI training and generation going forward—raising questions around copyright, compensation, and control. The team explores the ripple e...

In this episode of And Now for Something Completely Machinima, the team dives deep into the chilling Blender short I Made a Self-Aware Robot by the enigmatic creator Lights Are Off.

Tracy brings the film to the table, praising its haunting realism, uncanny robot design, and smart use of found-footage aesthetics. What begins as a seemingly grounded “scientist vlog” quickly spirals into a modern Frankenstein story—raising powerful questions about consciousness, ethics, and the dangers of unchecked technological ambition.

Damien highlights how the home-built lab setting makes the horror feel disturbingly close to realit...

In this episode of Now for Something Completely Machinima, the team revisits Ozymandias (1999) — one of the earliest and most controversial works of machinima, created by Hugh Hancock and Strange Company using the experimental LithTech Film Producer toolkit.

What begins as a straightforward critique quickly turns into a deeper debate:

👉 Is Ozymandias a “bad film”… or a groundbreaking prototype that helped shape virtual filmmaking?

Ricky challenges the film’s pacing, visuals, and sound, arguing that by today’s standards it feels unfinished and awkward. But Tracy and Phil place the work in its historical cont...

Starfield is one of the most cinematic games Bethesda’s ever shipped… so why haven’t we seen much machinima from it? Today we’re looking at a mod that might finally crack that open: a fully built settlement with lore, characters, quests, and surprisingly strong voice acting, presented with a “lore trailer” that feels like a slice-of-life tour through a corporate-controlled mining town. We’ll break down what it gets right, what it’s missing as machinima, and why projects like this might be the new bridge between fandom and professional virtual production.

Starfield has been sitting the...

What happens when Tolkien’s world, Enya’s music, and cutting-edge virtual performance collide?

In this episode, we explore a breathtaking Second Life film that reimagines “May It Be” as a haunting, hopeful journey through shadow and light. From gothic landscapes and cinematic lighting to an unexpectedly intimate motion-capture reveal, this episode showcases how virtual worlds can deliver not just spectacle, but genuine emotional resonance.

If you love:

·       Lord of the Rings and its timeless theme of hope against darkness

·       Machinima and virtual cinematography at its most poetic

·       Innovati...

This week, we review a supporter-recommended iClone fantasy machinima that surprised us with its polish: “Quest of a Key - Chapter One” by AuroraTrek. We’re always saying we want more story-driven iClone machinima (and fewer tech-demo vibes)… and this one delivers on craft: strong shot selection, confident editing, excellent music cues, and character animation that’s smoother than you’d expect.

But then the conversation gets interesting.

We dig into sound mastering and spatial audio, the difference between “dry” dialogue and believable room tone, how stylized realism can drift into “clay-face” territory, and what happens when a serie...

We begin with a heartfelt tribute to the late Frank Fox — filmmaker, musician, and beloved member of the machinima community. From his classic MovieStorm film Morning Run Amok to his live music performances as “Frank Leonatra,” we reflect on his creativity, generosity, and the lasting impact he had on virtual filmmaking and the people who loved him.

Then we dive deep into one of the most visually unique and emotionally powerful machinima ever made:

🎥 “Among Fables and Men” (2007) by Tobias “Dopefish” Lundmark.

Created in World of Warcraft using an experimental motion-comic style...

This week on And Now for Something Completely Machinima, snacks are flowing, pretzels are implied, and Tracy throws us a curveball of a film pick. 🍪🎬

We dive into “Demoram” by Livviathen, a lightning-fast, 90-second burst of animated chaos made in Team Fortress 2 and Garry’s Mod—and somehow packed with more storytelling, personality, and punch than films ten times its length.

At first glance, it looks like old-school machinima. But look again, and you’ll spot razor-sharp animation choices, perfectly timed sound design, and a wild, Warner Bros.–style cartoon energy that feels both nostalgic and fres...

🎮 What if the “bad ending” of Half-Life… wasn’t the end at all?

In this episode of Completely Machinima, Phil, Tracy, and Damien dive into one of gaming’s most legendary “what ifs.” We explore a fan-made Half-Life mod that does the unthinkable: it turns the game’s infamous impossible ending—the one where you’re meant to die horribly—into a brutal but beatable continuation of the story.

Instead of accepting your fate at the hands of the mysterious G-Man, this mod asks: what if you survived? The result is a fascinating piece of fan fiction-meet...

🎬 This week on And Now for Something Completely Machinima, we’re shaking (and stirring) things up with a deep dive into Benjamin Tuttle’s long-awaited James Bond machinima, Endgame – Part One 🍸💥

Host Damien Valentine kicks things off by revealing he actually voices Q in the film (recorded years ago!), before the panel digs into why this project is such a standout. Created in iClone and rendered in Unreal Engine, Endgame delivers a Bond look and feel that’s grounded, stylish, and refreshingly not sci-fi flashy—London actually looks like London, and the tone leans classic rather than futuristic.

🚍 This Week on Now for Something Completely Machinima 🎮

What if the most boring video game ever made was actually a goldmine for creativity?

This episode kicks off with Ricky’s unconventional pick: Desert Bus, a notorious 1990s “anti-game” by Penn & Teller where you drive a bus from Tucson to Las Vegas… in real time… for eight hours… and earn one point. That’s it. No explosions. No shortcuts. No pause button. Just desert, drift, and existential dread.

But instead of dismissing it as pointless, we flip the script. What if boredom is the point...

This week on the podcast, we’re diving into a grab-bag of big creator news, starting with YouTube, and yes… the “slop” situation. 

Tracy kicks things off with what looks like YouTube’s latest attempt to clean house: platform changes that claim to improve privacy and the viewing experience, but also mess with how videos behave when embedded on third-party sites. If you stream shows inside places like Second Life, that’s a real headache, because some embeds and API-based workarounds are suddenly unreliable or broken. 

But the bigger story? YouTube appears to be cracking down...

A special ep but unfortunately for the main content, most of this you need to hop on to our YouTube channel to watch as its mainly video footage... here is the intro by Tracy, with part of Paul Marino's keynote from his 2007 Introduction to the Machinima Europe Film Festival and the occasional part of a conversation.  Enjoy nonetheless.

Credits -
Host: Tracy Harwood
Editor: Phil Rice
Producer: Phil Rice (introduction); Lit Fuse Productions (content)
Music: Phil Rice & Suno AI (introduction); Lit Fuse Productions (content)

On this episode of And Now For Something Completely Machinima, Damien, Tracy and Ricky dive into one of Machinima.com’s most unexpected gems: the documentary series “All Your History Are Belong To Us”, focusing on the Stamper brothers and their legendary studio, Rare. 

💬 We talk about how the series charts Rare’s rise from a small UK outfit in Ashby-de-la-Zouch to a powerhouse behind classics like Donkey Kong Country, GoldenEye 007, and later Sea of Thieves – highlighting their pioneering use of pre-rendered 3D graphics and their influence on console FPS games. Ricky explains why, despite his misgivings about machinim...

In this episode of Completely Machinima, hosts Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, and Damien Valentine explore the stunning AI-powered operatic machinima “Arido Taurajo” — a groundbreaking short film created by Chantal Harvey (aka Mamachinima) in collaboration with digital artist James Morgan, AI composer Roboccini and soprano/AI researcher Maya Ackerman, among others.

🎮 About the Film:
Set in the World of Warcraft universe, Arido Taurajo tells the story of Dahlia, a female warrior torn between family life and adventure. The film combines AI-generated music with human performance, blending digital game visuals and classical opera in a visually rich and emotional...

In this episode of Completely Machinima, hosts Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood, and Damien Valentine review two creative Star Citizen machinima commercials — Dumpers Depot and Big Benny’s Grab Eats — both made for a Star Citizen video contest.

They explore how these 45-second in-game ads show off community creativity, storytelling, and production skills. Tracy breaks down what made Dumpers Depot Commercial more sophisticated in design and sound, while Big Benny’s... Grab Eat took home the win with its humor and clever use of Star Citizen lore.

💬 In This Episode:

We're beginning Season 6 with one of the best machinima-animated shorts we've ever seen (probably)!

🎥 Back to the Future UNHINGED, Machinima Film Made in Blender 

In this episode of The Completely Machinima Podcast, hosts Phil Rice, Damien Valentine, and Tracy Harwood review “Back to the Future Unhinged”, a viral machinima short film by Landon’s Animation Wheelhouse, created entirely in Blender 3D.

This chaotic, hilarious reimagining of Doc Brown and Marty’s adventures has racked up 700,000+ views and showcases incredible 3D animation, storytelling, and sound design. It’s packed with visual gags, cinematic camera work, a...

🎬 Ricky’s Wonderful World of Sound – Footsteps 

In episode 5 of our Maker Series, Ricky Grove explores the often-overlooked power of footstep sound design — and how something as simple as a single step can define mood, build tension, and reveal character. 

👣 What You’ll Learn: 
How footstep sounds convey location, emotion, and suspense in film. 
Why footsteps in the Spanish horror series 30 Coins masterfully foreshadow violence. 
The challenges of using video game sound libraries for cinematic sound design. 
Practical tips on recording and manipulating ambient sounds for realism. 
How to find free, high-quality so...

🎃 Halloween Special | Ricky’s Wonderful World of Sounds: MONSTERS! 👹

This Halloween, step into the dark side of Ricky’s Wonderful World of Sounds — where we explore the terrifying art of monster sound design! 🧟‍♂️

What do monsters really sound like? From the primal screeches that haunted early humans to the eerie, unearthly noises that send chills down modern audiences’ spines — this episode reveals how sound designers craft the perfect scare.

Discover:
 🔊 Why you should hear the monster before you see it
🦴 How altered animal and environmental sounds create fear
🧬 The science of sound that taps into...