The animated film Flow has achieved a remarkable milestone by winning an Oscar for "Best Animated Feature," showcasing the potential of the open-source 3D modeling software Blender. Despite the film's success, which was created on a limited budget and with a small team, the broader Hollywood landscape remains hesitant to fully embrace Blender in large-scale productions.
While Blender is popular for independent films and has been instrumental in various animated TV shows, including episodes of Love, Death & Robots, its application in major studios is still limited. Many animation and VFX companies have invested heavily in their proprietary software and production pipelines, making a transition to Blender unlikely without significant incentives.
Moreover, the complexity of retraining personnel and the established workflows in large studios pose further challenges. Although Blender has proven effective for smaller projects and is accessible for new talent, its role in high-budget films remains largely untested.