Exit.exe Short Film Animation

• 

  Exit.exe Short Film Animation

Inspiration

Exit.exe was inspired by the shows Code Lyoko and Squid Game. I’ve always liked stories where normal people are pulled into strange digital worlds and must survive by using their mind and courage. I also wanted to see how far I could go making an anime-style short film with AI tools. Normally, a mix of 2D and 3D animation costs a lot of money and time, but with AI, I could make it by myself while still keeping it creative and cinematic.

What it does

The short film tells the story of Taiju, a high school boy who finds an abandoned gaming capsule at school. When he steps on it, the capsule scans him into a 3D game world where he must survive with only five lives. Every hit from a monster costs him one life, and losing them all means he’s trapped forever. The film uses 2D anime style for Taiju’s real life at school and 3D style for the game world, creating a strong visual contrast between reality and the digital realm.

How we built it

The film was made with a mix of AI tools and creative editing. The story was divided into short 5-second scenes so the AI could handle each part clearly. I used 2D anime style for real-life moments and 3D style for the digital world. The scenes were blended during editing and enhanced with sound effects, voices, and music. This method made the project faster and cheaper than full animation production while keeping a strong cinematic look.

It was created using a combination of AI tools and platforms: -ChatGPT – for script editing and story refinement. -Nano Banana – to generate characters, locations, and scene designs. -Seedance – for creating emotional and low-action video scenes. -Hailuo AI – for high-action, dynamic scenes. -Hedra – to provide lip-sync for still images. -OpenArt – platform to access and manage the AI tools.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was making the 2D and 3D styles look smooth and consistent. The fighting scenes were especially hard, because AI often struggles with body motion, timing, and fast action. Some monster designs had to be simplified so the animation wouldn’t break.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

One of the biggest challenges was making the 2D and 3D styles look smooth together with matching lighting and camera angles. The fighting scenes were especially hard, because AI often struggles with body motion, timing, and fast action. Some monster designs had to be simplified so the animation wouldn’t break. It also took time to adjust scene colors and effects so everything felt part of one world.

What we learned

I learned that AI can help, but it still needs human direction, good pacing, and clear visual planning. Simpler scenes and smart camera angles make AI results much better. I also learned that mixing 2D anime style with 3D style gives a strong and exciting style.

What's next for Exit.exe Short Film Animation

Next, I want to make a sequel, Exit.exe. It will follow Taiju as he learns the mysterious story of the game capsule and the story of the pink-haired girl and the evil boy in the digital world. I also want to make the project better with nicer character designs, smoother animation, and more accurate lip-sync.

Built With

• chatgpt
• exit.exe.-it-will-follow-taiju-as-he-learns-the-mysterious-story-of-the-game-capsule-and-the-story-of-the-pink-haired-girl-and-the-evil-boy-in-the-digital-world.-i-also-want-to-make-the-project-better-with-nicer-character-designs
• hailuo
• hedra
• i-want-to-make-a-sequel
• openart
• seedance
• smoother-animation