DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict
| DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Hooroo Jackson |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $405[1] |
DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict is a 2024 American animated film directed by Hooroo Jackson. It is the first AI animated feature film[2][3][4][5][6] and the first AI anime feature film. It premiered on July 3, 2024 and was released on July 26, 2024 on Amazon Prime, receiving a Blu-ray release on August 31, 2024.[7]
Premise
[edit]Sophomore Betty Gray's romance with Duchamps De Ve, the leader of the banned occult group Dread Club, spirals out of control when a rival from his past accuses him of being a vampire. As Duchamps fights to clear his name in court, Betty must race to prove his innocence, while facing an onslaught of hate from those who brand him as a monster.
Production
[edit]The film was made entirely by Jackson, directing the film for $405 between February and July 2024 using only AI technology for sound, music, performances, imagery and animation. It also includes experiments with AI editing.[1]
Release
[edit]Following its July 26, 2024 release, DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict won Best Animated Film at the Kraken International Film Festival [8] and Best Director at the Miami Street International Film Festival.[9] It was also featured at the AI Film Awards in Venice and the Burano Film Festival.
Book release
[edit]Jackson documented the entire production in Artificial Imagination: The Making of "DreadClub"' (2024). The book presents his complete LLM dialogues across the six-month production of DreadClub.[10]
Reception
[edit]Rotten Tomatoes reports that three out of four surveyed critics gave the film a positive review. Martin Carr wrote, "DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict is an animated A.I. feature film that takes movie making to another level. Writer-director Hooroo Jackson has fashioned something unique with this Gothic horror romance, that not only feels cinematic, but proves to be truly engaging."[11] Bobby LePire of Film Threat praised the film, writing, "This is an intriguing first step into the potential of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. More importantly, it highlights Jackson as a talented filmmaker with style."[12] Film critic Ronak Kotecha commended the film's storytelling elements, noting, "On the whole, the viewer is assured of an engaging pageant of myth, mystery and melodrama."[13]
Awards and nominations
[edit]- 2024 - Kraken International Film Festival: Winner, Best Animated Film [8]
- 2024 - Miami Street International Film Festival: Winner, Best Director, Hooroo Jackson[14]
- 2024 - Mindfield Film Festival: Winner, Best Animated Film[15]
- 2024 - AI Film Awards, Venice: Official Selection
- 2024 - Burano International Film Festival: Official Selection
References
[edit]- ^ a b "The Adventures of Hooroo Jackson Across the A.I. Revolution". FilmInk. August 16, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ Lees, Dominic (December 12, 2024). "2024: The Year in AI". Sight and Sound. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Fink, Charlie (October 27, 2024). "First AI Animated Feature Film, article correction". Forbes. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ L'Wren, Alexa (July 10, 2024). "AI-Generated Anime Feature, 'DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict' Streams in July". Animation World Network. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ "The Future of Animation - Curious Refuge Interview". YouTube. November 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ Kotecha, Ronak (September 4, 2024). "A Review of 'DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict' – An engaging A.I. flick about legendary bad blood". ReviewRon. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
- ^ "DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ a b "Summer 2024 Winners". Kraken Film Festival. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "Awards". Miami Street International Film Festival. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "[Artificial Imagination: The Making of DreadClub]". WorldCat. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Carr, Martin. "DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict". DreadClub. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ LePire, Bobby (August 6, 2024). "DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict". Film Threat. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ Kotecha, Ronak. "DreadClub: Vampire's Verdict Review". Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "Best Director". Miami Street International Film Festival. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "Best Animated Film". Mindfield Film Festival. Retrieved November 19, 2024.