Virtual Filmmaking with Unreal Engine 5: A step-by-step guide to creating a complete animated short film

by Hussin Khan

Use real-time technology in Unreal Engine 5 to discover the power of storytelling, exploring storyboarding, character creation, world building, animating using sequencers, and more 'Virtual Filmmaking with Unreal Engine 5' is the first Unreal Engine book that will teach you how to complete a virtual film. It will encompass the full spectrum of filmmaking, utilizing an industry standard tool that is currently being used by studios such as Disney, ILM, DNEG, and Framestore. In this book, you will first collect references and create a simple storyboard, to plan your shots from the camera's point of view. Then you will create virtual environments - by importing 3D models, and adding materials and textures - to create photorealistic, dynamic worlds. After that, you will create actors using highly customisable MetaHumans, learning how to import, re-target, and animate them. Finally, you will put all of this together with cinematic lighting and camera animation, before exporting your film. By the end of this book, you will have practiced and uncovered new tools to add to your toolkit, and be able to make virtual films using only Unreal Engine 5 by utilizing Quixel Mixer, Quixel Megascan, Lumen, Nanite, and MetaHuman technology. If you are a beginner to intermediate Filmmaker, 3D Artist, Animator, Visual Effects artist, or Virtual Production professional with some basic knowledge of the Unreal Engine, and are looking to delve into making virtual films and animations, then this book is for you. You would benefit from having some experience of the Unreal Engine, but a deep working knowledge is not required as activities will introduce the relevant tools and features when needed.

480 pages, Paperback

Published February 16, 2024