How Blender helped Gints Zilbalodis make Oscar-nominated Flow

The making of a scene from the animated film Flow
(Image credit: Gints Zilbalodis)

Despite its relatively small budget, Flow has been delighting audiences around the world and garnering accolades since its release in October. It's now a contender for the best animation Oscar 2025, and it's Latvia's first shot at Best International Feature.

Many are surprised to learn that the beautifully animated film, which follows the mystical journey of a dark grey cat and his companions, was made entirely in the free 3D modelling software Blender. But how do you make a such a powerful piece of animation in free software? The writer and director Gints Zilbalodis has shared some of his experience (also see our collection of blender tutorials).

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Joe Foley

Joe is a regular freelance journalist and editor at Creative Bloq. He writes news, features and buying guides and keeps track of the best equipment and software for creatives, from video editing programs to monitors and accessories. A veteran news writer and photographer, he now works as a project manager at the London and Buenos Aires-based design, production and branding agency Hermana Creatives. There he manages a team of designers, photographers and video editors who specialise in producing visual content and design assets for the hospitality sector. He also dances Argentine tango.

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