Vol 666: take off for Hell!

Inspiration from the sky…

Did you know that there is a commercial flight between Copenhagen and Helsinki that is numbered 666 and lands at the airport with the code none other than… HEL? And did you know, moreover, that this flight sometimes takes off on a Friday the 13th? That was all it took to inspire the creators of Flight 666, a short film as comical as it is offbeat, made by ESMA students. In this crazy adventure, compulsive gambler and small-time crook Johnny and his venal and manipulative wife Monica find themselves thrown into Hell. There, they are forced to make a pact with the Devil himself to save their souls…

Technical, artistic and narrative challenges

Among the main challenges encountered by the students, it was the work on the characters that required a particular effort in terms of research and adaptation. First sketched in 2D, their transition to 3D brought its share of constraints, particularly for rigging, animation and expressiveness.

For the sake of realism and emotional embodiment, each character even received specific treatment for the teeth, a detail that required precise work on facial transitions and lip synchronization, essential for making the dialogues fluid and credible.

Another challenge was the creation of the props: often designed for a single shot, they required meticulous work. The directors had to find a balance between the aesthetics of the film, the legibility of the shapes and ensuring that they were not perceived as toys. It was a delicate challenge, aimed at enhancing immersion while preserving visual credibilityAutre défi : la création des accessoires. Souvent conçus pour un seul plan, ils ont nécessité un travail minutieux. Les réalisateurs ont dû trouver un équilibre entre l’esthétique du film, la lisibilité des formes et la nécessité de ne pas les faire passer pour des jouets. Un défi délicat, visant à renforcer l’immersion tout en préservant la crédibilité visuelle..

A house style of humor!

A huge congratulations to the team of directors, who collaborated with talent on this project!

The film’s signature, if there is one to be highlighted, undoubtedly lies in its dark humor and sarcastic intentions. The directors claim an accessible humor, tinged with biting irony.

“We wanted our film to speak to everyone,” they insist. A bet brilliantly kept, with humor that hits the mark, and a tone that satisfies the whole team: “We’ve found a humor all our own,” they conclude, “and we hope it will make you laugh as much as it does us!” To see for yourself:

Watch Vol 666 on our Esma movies channel: