Watermelon Girl is a beautiful short film by SouthernShotty (aka Remington Markham), made entirely in Blender 3D. In this article, we review the film and explain why ‘Watermelon Girl’ is a Must-Watch for Blender enthusiasts and animators.
Plot
The narrative follows a King who lives alone in his Watermelon Kingdom. The King lives a perfect little life, taking care of all the melons until, one day, he dies. A statue of him is erected upon his grave. Up there, he can finally see outside his castle wall that others are suffering. The King is really sad and regrets his life alone. The King’s statue drops a final tear that drips down on his grave and into his stomach.
In the morning, magic happened. The Watermelon Girl was suddenly born on top of his grave. She was so happy in the Watermelon Kingdom, unaware of those outside repeating the King’s mistake. Then, with the King’s last breath, he dragged the Watermelon Girl outside of the castle, and the journey began.
Her hair is made of rope, and she starts plucking her hair off to help others. She helps everyone and makes them so happy with her appearance until she runs out of hair. She is thinking about going home, but when she can’t go up because there’s no hair left to climb. She is sad and starts to cry. Suddenly, the others that she helped before all come together and give the hair back to her. She is so happy and starts climbing her hair to go home. On the other hand, the others are sad because Watermelon Girl is not going back anymore.
But suddenly, a rope fell down. Watermelon Girl shows up; she doesn’t want to live alone like before. Then, she lives happily ever after with his new family.
Technical Data
- Title: Watermelon Girl
- Country: US
- Year: 2024
- Produced by a single animator
- Director: SouthernShotty
- Writer: SouthernShotty
- Additional Writing: Devin Polaski
- Key Cast: John Mountford, Liz Brand
- Sound Design: Trevor Richardson, Sanctus Audio
- Music: Devin Polaski
The Director, SouthernShotty
SouthernShotty is known for creating artistic, creative content, such as short films or music, especially on platforms like TikTok or YouTube. His work, such as “Watermelon Girl,” seems to blend visual storytelling, music, and surrealism to create thought-provoking experiences. SouthernShotty’s content is a fusion of surrealism, personal expression, and experimental art. He creates immersive, emotionally engaging experiences using visuals, music, and symbolism. The abstract nature of his work invites viewers to explore themes of identity, love, and personal growth in a way that feels deeply personal yet universally relatable.
As a content creator, SouthernShotty seems to be carving out a niche for itself by appealing to those who appreciate artistic and unconventional storytelling that blends digital art, music, and emotion.
SouthernShotty is also a YouTube content creator with over 225,000 subscribers and 15 million views, known for his focus on 3D education and animation.
Production
The production of Watermelon Girl was done by a single animator, SouthernShotty. A single animator is an individual who works independently to create animations, often handling every aspect of the animation process by themselves. This contrasts with larger animation studios, where teams of animators work collaboratively, with each member responsible for specific tasks.
Team Production of this short film includes the Director, Writer, and 3D things SouthernShotty himself, Additional writing by Devin Polaski, Key Cast by John Mountford and Liz Brand, Sound Design by Trevor Richardson and Sanctus Audio, and Music from Devin Polaski.
Watch the author’s video (SouthernShotty), “I Spent 10,000 hours on one Blender Project!” in which he describes his journey and adventure in making this short movie using Blender.
The movie
“Watermelon Girl” is a remarkable short film created by Remington Markham, popularly known as SouthernShotty. This 13-minute animation, primarily crafted using Blender, was a solo endeavour spanning five years. Markham meticulously documented his journey, sharing insights and tutorials on his YouTube channel, providing a transparent look into the challenges and triumphs of independent filmmaking.
As of now, there is no public information confirming that “Watermelon Girl” has received any awards. However, the film was nominated for the Blender 3D Suzanne Awards, a testament to its quality and the recognition it has garnered within the Blender community. citeturn0search14
For those interested in behind-the-scenes content, Markham has been generous in sharing his process. He released a comprehensive making-of-video that delves into the production design, asset development, and animation techniques he employed. This video offers valuable insights into the realities of creating an indie short film and serves as an educational resource for aspiring animators. citeturn0search3
To explore more of SouthernShotty’s work and access the film, you can visit his YouTube channel, where “Watermelon Girl” is available for viewing. Additionally, his Linktree provides access to his social media profiles and other related content. citeturn0search2
For a more in-depth understanding of the film and its creation, you might find this interview with SouthernShotty insightful:
An interview with Watermelon Girl creator SouthernShotty!
Why ‘Watermelon Girl’ is a Must-Watch for Blender Enthusiasts and Animators
Unique Art Style Inspired by Handcrafted Aesthetics
The film draws inspiration from handmade arts and crafts, blending modern 3D techniques with an analogue feel. This approach results in a visually distinct experience that merges digital precision with the warmth of traditional art forms.
Educational Resource for Aspiring Animators
Throughout the film’s development, SouthernShotty shared his progress and insights with the community, providing valuable tutorials and behind-the-scenes content. This transparency offers aspiring animators a realistic view of the challenges and rewards of independent filmmaking using Blender.
Links to SouthernShotty
(aka Remington Markham)
