James Cunningham

James Cunningham believes that although animation is ultimately just a tool, it can be a very powerful tool — the kind that allows filmmakers the ability to craft exactly the images and angles that they want to realise their vision. Cunningham’s own career has seen him specialising in computer-generated imagery, be it full 3D animation or visual effects added to live action. Since graduating from Elam (in Auckland) in 1997, he has crossed back and forth between the stylised CGI images found in his own shorts, and the photo-realistic kind used in live action commercials and movies. Cunningham studied photography at Elam, following it with a Master of Fine Arts in digital animation. In 1997, working alongside producing partner Paul Swadel, he completed rollercoaster-style short film Delf (short for ‘digitally engineered life forms’). The film featured two tadpole-like creatures on the chase, set to a driving Pitch Black soundtrack. Delf — and follow-up films Blinder (1998) and 14-months in the making Infection (2000) — all starred computer programmes as on-screen characters, moving through their own digital worlds. Delf and Blinder both won attention — Blinder even got local theatrical release alongside movie In the Company of Men. But Infection proved to be Cunningham’s international breakthrough. Peopled with a troupe of syringe-soldiers and the Dali-like moving eyeball seen in Blinder, Infection became one of the biggest selling-Kiwi shorts to date. Alongside invitations…