An ode to the endless possibilities of animation by digital artist Murat Sayginer

In 2019, it’s hard to be too floored by what once was the mysterious magic of computer-aided effects. Our eyes have been trained for decades now to spot the little inconsistencies that out a detailed image as a weightless phantom. So rather than doubling down on this quest to ground CGI in reality, The Flying Fish explores the more surreal realms of our existence that lights and cameras alone struggle to conjure up alone

.

Though The Flying Fish lacks a narrative in the conventional sense, it seeks to depict arguably the longest-running narrative possible: that of human progress. Beginning with a myriad of mysterious orbs carving out a human head, what follows is a surreal range of imagery that invites you to create a story within it. Colours, textures, and sweeping camera angles all fly across the screen, with the one remaining constant being the motif of the human form as it molds and adapts to its surroundings, followed by the mysterious flying fish of the title.

When conversations so often revolve around the minutia of CGI – how many hairs on a character’s head, the realism of a skin texture, etc. – it’s refreshing here to see that the visual flair is generated through other means. The models and animations may not be the slickest or most polished out there, but the way director Murat Sayginer composes them into a cohesive whole is breathtaking.

As the effort of a large team, The Flying Fish would be an interesting, experimental short. But within the context of being the work of a single man over the course of an intense seven-year travail, the film is transformed into exactly what it intends to represent: a journey of monumental proportions.

Excerpt from Zoe Crombie's review of ''The Flying Fish'', a short film by Murat Saygıner.

The talented filmmaker works as a motion designer, digital artist, retoucher and photographer. He even composes music! Make sure to visit his website muratsayginer.com