QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE Where’s the audio from? The audio is actually from the 1983 radio drama adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back. I did some minimal editing to take out a certain part, and added some additional sound effects, but the writing, direction, and voice acting is all from the 80s! If you liked this, make sure to check out the original radio dramas! They’re all on KZread. Are you going to adapt any more of the radio dramas? Probably not. This was a rather unique scenario where I wanted to test out character animation, and these two scenes fit the bill perfectly: a space battle (kinda, you know, my thing) and then two people talking. I also didn’t want to have any big name characters in the scene, and the only character in this that is actually in the movies is Captain Needa (one of the guys that gets choked out by Darth Vader in ESB). How long did it take to do this? Roughly six months - six long, brutal months, with a lot of breaks in-between. What software do you use? A combination of: Blender (animation, rendering) Reallusion’s Character Creator and iClone (character creation and animation), Substance Painter (texturing), Adobe After Effects (color grading and additional effects), and Adobe Premiere Pro (assembly, editing, and sound design).

@DIEGhostfish

Жыл бұрын

I see you're going more with the pure Radio Drama version rather than the Baron Fel Comic version with the 181st present?

@guyblack6171

Жыл бұрын

I NEVER comment but I just wanted to say I grew up listening the the NPR adaptation of Star Wars and seeing it brought to life... brought tears to my eyes. This is amazing.

@stalebread4

Жыл бұрын

I absolutely love the use of the Star Wars Audiodrama here in such a seamless way. Took me back in time to listening to these on audiobook during family road-trips. Well done!

@Edelweiss91

Жыл бұрын

Today I learned there was a radio version of star wars, very cool!

@RoboticPope

Жыл бұрын

It's really good. Loads of extra scenes.

This is a classic Star Wars story. Tactical. Believable plot. Behaviors match each combat forces doctrine and tactics.

@xxnightdriverxx9576

Жыл бұрын

This is also how many, many engagements would have gone for the rebellion. The victories we see on screen are rare exceptions, not the norm.

@timonsolus

Жыл бұрын

@@xxnightdriverxx9576 : Untrue. The Ambush at Derra IV was planned by Grand Admiral Thrawn (although Lord Vader presented the plan and took all the credit). This was definitely not the norm.

@kn3448

Жыл бұрын

@timonsolus Actually it WAS the norm. Until the battle of Endor, rebel forces were scattered and disorganised, particularly after the panicked evacuation of Yavin 4 and the Empire's reinvigorated effort to destroy the rebellion after the destruction of the first Death Star. During the tenure of The Empire Strikes Back and the preceding years, we see a rebellion broken by combat, scarce in resources and very much on the brink of defeat. I don't know what source material you're using but it's probably from the more modern take which presents the rebels as never-go-wrong perfect warriors instead of exhausted, desperate freedom fighters and the Galactic Empire as an incompetent, useless bunch of morons who don't even know how to operate their own hardware instead of a terrifying totalitarian dictatorship. God I hate modern Star Wars!

@LewisB3217

Жыл бұрын

@@kn3448the rebels weren’t really so disorganized, they were trained by crix nadine and many others, and many were ex imps. In regards to what you said at the end about them (Disney) apparently changing the material of the rebels? I mean, I haven’t read legends but they’ve stayed the same since the old movies, some are more radical (Saw, Luthen) and the rest are less militant, no one in Star Wars is perfect, and the empire isn’t portrayed as incompetent, I’d love to see where you think that is shown

@danielboatright8887

Жыл бұрын

Its so classic that it was an actual event in the pre disney EU.

I love the fact that the officer says “reconnoitered.” It just feels unnecessarily formal but totally appropriate for the Empire.

@stephen2583

Жыл бұрын

Its called English, not Americanish. Reconnasence not Recon, Intelligence not Intel, Aluminium not Aloominum. Chump not Trump.

@taylork2281

Жыл бұрын

@@stephen2583 First of all, recon is short for Reconnaissance and intel is short for intelligence, and that last one you gave is completely irrelevant.

@stephen2583

Жыл бұрын

@@taylork2281 LOL, that just went right over your head didnt it.

@Veldtian1

Жыл бұрын

@@stephen2583 Yeah Trump IS a chump for rolling over on the neo-Bolshie tyranny sweeping the Republic right now.

@MagnaSonic3000

Жыл бұрын

I guess you also have a problem with Australian English because they sound a little different. Stop whining about irrelevant crap.

It's truly incredible how just one person today can do CGI work that outclasses 2000s era movies. What an excellent video.

@MonstersNotUnderTheBed

Жыл бұрын

Nahh. Prequels are just fine. It's the Sequels that are abominations.

@danielthompson6010

Жыл бұрын

@@MonstersNotUnderTheBed Hahaha what? He was purely commenting on the CGI (which is excellent in the sequels). I guess as a true star wars 'fan' you had to meet your hourly hate on the sequels quota.

@Gaelic-Spirit

Жыл бұрын

@@danielthompson6010 Just as you have to meet your hourly gatekeeping quota. Disliking poor quality products that were literally rushed by Disney doesn't prevent you from being a fan.

@Gaelic-Spirit

Жыл бұрын

@@MonstersNotUnderTheBed Prequels still used a lot of physical models, there were actually more used in the prequels than the originals, and I think the quality of the VFX work, especially in Episode III was quite good.

@SEPK09

Жыл бұрын

and do better CHI than most top movie developers today !!

Oh my god that was so good. I was at the edge of my seat the entire time. That whole battle happened so FAST, literally I put my hands over my mouth when the captain was killed. I thought for sure he was gonna be okay. He was so calm, collected, responded so well. But his men just couldn't keep up and you can only do so much alone. Like, it was over before I even realized, like my GOD. I'm over here sad and shit like that's how you know ts was good.

@SkyForgeFilms

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@Nergalsama01

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, that's the thing about Commander Narra. He was a good pilot and a great leader by all accounts. Luke really looked up to him. :(

@templarw20

Жыл бұрын

@@Nergalsama01 Yup. Luke was really broken up in the scene where he go the news. I feel like General Antoc Merrick was the closest we'll get to Narra in live action.

@sarutanku

Жыл бұрын

@@templarw20 Oh no, so that guy was someone close to Luke?!

@sarutanku

Жыл бұрын

@@Nergalsama01 He was so great, like man, bro took 2 seconds to register the odds and somewhat made a plan RIGHT THERE on the fly. That's such amazing leadership :((

Using the audio of Brian Daley’s Empire Strikes Back radio play is a stroke of genius.

@Jack_Stafford

Жыл бұрын

I came to make the same statement, those audio dramas are exquisitely made.

Finally, a battle where TIE fighters don't serve as comic relief and implode when a Rebel pilot looks at them sternly.

Dude, you actually "get it." The tone is perfect. The editing. This is Star Wars! And my god that SD looks like a practical effect.

Damn, feel bad for the rebels. Super cool to see the radio drama adapted

Love how you nailed the feeling of models mounted on filming rigs while still taking it to the next level like the people back then would have with access to modern solutions.

This the part of the radio drama that really shows the Empire striking back competently. Zahn did a good job adding Thrawn/Fel as the key with the Derra 4 operation. Great legends stuff. Awesome job!

Wonderful display of the might of the empire

@odd-ysseusdoesstuff6347

Жыл бұрын

Glory to the Empire! Long live the Emperor! 😊

Extremely polished work. You really exceeded all expectations. Thanks for setting the quality bar that high, for others to follow.

I really appreciate that you incorporate EC Henry’s ships to your work!

This feels straight-up professional, I could see this as full CGI movie. Your work keeps getting better and better my friend.

It's nice to see a Star Wars fan film which isn't filmed in forest or sandy beach/desert.

Nice one! And to think Derra IV was Thrawn's doing. Adding tanker ships and tractor transports also gives the idea of what the rebels needed to use for supply runs in addition to GR-75s.

Human character animation is the hardest thing to get right. This was a herculean task you set for yourself, and your results are admirable!

@jaritclouse7547

8 ай бұрын

I 100% agree! I truly felt the pain and anguish when the X-Wing Commander was blown up! I haven't seen CG be able to do that hardly at all but the emotions he was able to animate surprisingly really gave me the feels! Incredible job!

This is beautiful, adapting an audio drama was such a good idea

So this is what the characters kept referencing in the X Wing novels! Amazing to see it visualised! Also the tie in to Empire is brilliant!

@michaelandreipalon359

Жыл бұрын

There's also the Rogue Squadron Issue 25 comic, which shows off the Imperial Baron Soontir Fel's perspective of it. Even revealed that Thrawn himself was responsible for this coup de grace.

@jayburn00

5 ай бұрын

​@@michaelandreipalon359thrawn basically planned it

Wow, your human animations have gotten way better and detailed than the first few attempts! Great job!

Exceptional work, as always! Loved the Needa cameo.

@michaelandreipalon359

Жыл бұрын

He admittedly has an ascended role in the Ep. V radio drama, from which this short film is adapted upon.

@templarw20

Жыл бұрын

@@michaelandreipalon359 Yup. He's a better "everyman" within the Imperial fleet than Piett.

The imp march always sounds so cool.

These short films keep getting better and better. Outstanding work to all involved

Amazing animation as always, another great movie to add to the playlist

This is so cool, I loved the conversation between the two imperial officers

This is amazingly well done. The voice sync is well done.

This is so amazing!!! Really scratches that Star Wars itch I've been having lately, plus it does a great job of showing off how brutal the Empire could be in a way the movies didn't always have time to cover.

Great work. This was really well put together.

Truly amazing work. I love how chaotic it is depicted, really bringing you in and immersing you as it comes of very believable which is hard to achieve without detracting from what is happening on screen

Wow! This is incredible with the voice acting and human animations. Your stuff just keeps getting better and better!

@mrleglove3377

Жыл бұрын

It's from the Star Wars expanded radio dramatization of the original Star Wars trilogy was produced in 1981, 1983, and 1996. The first two radio series, based on Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, were produced and broadcast by National Public Radio as part of NPR Playhouse. Excellent stuff. You can find them on KZread

@MichaelCasanovaMusic

Жыл бұрын

@@mrleglove3377 Thanks for the suggestion. I'll check it out

@mrleglove3377

Жыл бұрын

@@MichaelCasanovaMusic If give extra life to the originals. The voice actor stand in for Han and Princess Leia Organa do an Excellent job

@MichaelCasanovaMusic

Жыл бұрын

@@mrleglove3377 thanks for the assist! I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it

@mrleglove3377

Жыл бұрын

@@MichaelCasanovaMusic No probs. The 1st (New Hope) and 2nd (Empire) ones are the best. The Jedi one is good but was released a couple of years after Empire.

This was well done and quite sublime work, I love the EC Henry additions & the inclusion of Battlefronts Renegade Squadron. Cheers to you ! Can’t wait for the next one. One note though, the officer who reports to Captain Needa has a Lt. Commander rank plaque, not a 1st Lieutenant.

@michaelandreipalon359

Жыл бұрын

I don't think this is the same Renegade Squadron, though. Confusing, I know, but...

@ChimneyBlubbers

Жыл бұрын

It's not, this Renegade squadron is the immediate predecessor to Luke Skywalker's Rogue Squadron. The Rogues were one of several squadrons flying under the leadership of Renegade Flight's commanding officer, Commander Narra. After his death shortly before the Battle of Hoth, Luke became the highest ranking officer amongst the surviving squads.

I'm 34 seconds in. I've not seen a full SkyForge star Wars video in a while. I understand that the process is very time consuming. The fact that you have started off @ 34 seconds in with the Star Wars live Radio play of the Empire Strikes Back. Tells me this is going to be good. If anyone has not listened to the live radio plays of the classic three Star Wras movies. I suggest you listen to them on KZread. Excellent stuff.

I remember reading about this battle in the Xwing Comics and how Baron Soontir Fel recounted the fight. The final words from Commander Narra were near verbatim from the comics. Very nice attention to detail here!

@TheRevanSentinel

Жыл бұрын

The audio is ripped from the radio version of Empire Strikes Back

@alexchong1933

6 ай бұрын

Argh i missed the last copy of that edition of the comic almost 10 years ago. still have the first 4 copies tho...

Once again, Skyforge comes out with another work of art. :) I can see some more of EC Henry's ship works also coming into play too. Well done.

Finally! A win for the Imperial Navy. Excellent short film.

I love how you use the audio from the radio drama. This is another great piece of animation!

@miltonkiller707

Жыл бұрын

This is something Disney should be doing if they want to make some money.

@thejanusproject32

9 ай бұрын

@@miltonkiller707 Yeah, Disney doesn't give two shits

That was insane! Everything from the Animation to the shot composition to the color grade! Your character animations were pretty damn good too! The large movement of the arms, walk cycle, and head bobbing was extremely well done! The mouth syncing is wasn't great but honestly that's something that even billion dollar films have issues with. Amazing work!! 10/10!

Great, and finally some imperials that aren't bubbling idiots. The convoy 's massacre seems coming straight from early WWII 's Pacific war 's chronicle, when the IJN seemed invincible.

Hey, a Star Wars film where their isn't an Imperial defector or them getting clowned. Well done.

Wow. I actually forgot that I was watching a fan film for a second. specifically when the star destroyer showed up. genuinely felt like Ep 5.

Wow, I just gotta state that your Imperial Star Destroyer was spot on... I mean OG, New Hope, with miniatures, spot on! The lighting, the greebling, the nuance, all just made me feel like I was back in the original trilogy instantly. Even the panning actions of your cameras are reminiscent of old ILM.

Modern Star Wars done in a distinctly retro style. There's something about the Original Trilogy that makes the ships feel so real; ramshackle and industrial in the way only a vehicle could be, and it's been captured nicely here. I love the usage of the old radio dramatization acting, too; the battle was a lot more tactically structured with proper unit callouts and sqaudron orders and it was neat to see the rebels put up such a competent fight before the Empire won out. Great work on the animation and especially the atmosphere of the short!

This is how the engagements between the Rebellion and the Empire normally turn out with a crushing defeat

Shoutout to the EC Henry ships that made it into this.

This is so awesome! Amazing work and well done! I just shared this on my community tab!

@SkyForgeFilms

Жыл бұрын

Awesome, thank you!

This was excellent! the death of the flight leader was dark and unexpected, loved it!

Absolutely incredible! The floating Rebel pilot helmet amongst the wreckage was the cherry on the cake of the carnage

Amazing work transforming the audio drama into animation. Seeing all the improvements video to video is awesome to see as well. Can't wait to see more

Incredibly well done

The Imperial officers conversation is combination of CGI and radio drama 1980, make my jaw drop. Excellent scene.🤯

I love these short stories soooooo much

@SkyForgeFilms

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Shack!

WoW! Henry’s starships looks fantastic in fan films! Great job!

Thanks for bringing this to life! I loved listening to the old NPR radio plays as a kid, and I'm a huge fan of Brian Daley's writing. Love Cdr. Narra's helmet design! MTFBY!

This is awesome! I've been a fan of the Star Wars radio dramas for YEARS; always wished this scene had a proper adaptation

Finally, I’ve been scouring the entirety of KZread for a fan film that isn’t just rebel propaganda, this was really good, excellent job. And way to stand out from many others.

That was fantastic. I remembering listening to this on the radio when it first came out in the early 80's. This is really well done. Are you going to do the rest of the additional scenes from the radio drama? It would be cool to supercut them with the movie.

Truly incredible work as always, simply stunning detail. Now if someone could show this amount of dedication to the missing Doctor Who videos where only the audio remains, I'd be a happy fan.

Now that was epic! 😲

This is by far the most perfect depiction of the Ambush at Derra IV. The visuals and the animation are so clean.

Damn, that’s some skilled work. Absolutely amazing stuff.

This was amazing. From the starship models to facial animations to the way everything flowed. Extremely impressive work, thank you for sharing your skills!

This was always my favorite part of the EMP radio drama. This scene was TERRIFYING to listen to as a kid, so to finally get to really visualize it is amazing. Fantastic work!

Very well done. Isn't it amazing what a quality sound mix and musical score can do for a piece. The editing doesn't have to be flashy or complicated. The only slights I would give relate to the marking of the X-Wings in Renegade flight and Commander Narra's helmet as well as some odd tinting to TIE fighter cockpit windows.

Way more entertaining than anything disney has come up with lately!!! 😁👍❤️

WOW... just wow. What a fantastic SW story. Characters taken seriously. No "DEI" propaganda. No Incompient "stormtroopers" The top of the R5 hit me when the camera panned out but the helmet really drove it home. Beautiful. I felt more in this short film than I did in all the DisneyWars Films. More please! Also Subbed!

@kn3448

Жыл бұрын

Really well put. Even though it's a short animation, it gives off the real vibes of how desperate the rebels were in their fight and how crushingly oppressive the Empire was. It really makes you want to cheer for the good guys and give a good old hearty boo for the bad guys.

@robertchandler6254

Жыл бұрын

@@kn3448 and yet the bad guys have nuance too. They clearly do the job because they feel its right and what they are doing is maintaining order from chaos and corruption, however wrong they might be. They are not just mindless evil caricatures, like the current franchisees want to give us.

@saberiandream316

Жыл бұрын

Sad how this level of competent writing isn't with us anymore, is it?

@Barely_Edited

25 күн бұрын

⁠​⁠@@robertchandler6254the empire was an evil caricature right from the original trilogy, though. Blame it on ‘dei’ if you like (though you would be silly to) but the empire have always unambiguously been heartless monsters oppressing the galaxy. One of the first things you see them do is blow up a planet ffs I think you’re exaggerating the negatives of now and getting rose-tinted for the past. The empire was always ‘I want to rule the galaxy because I’m a sith. Now I’m going to blast you with lightning’. Vader gets redemption, but none of the others do at all. I never saw that nuance in the originals - in fact, the sequels do it a lot better with Luke being flawed and kylo being redeemed…

Nice, an imperial victory. Love to see it! Reminds me of when I use an interdictor and a couple TIE squadrons to neutralize a transport fleet in Empire at War. I'd also love to see an animation done by you from the imperial's perspective, with more cockpit shots and chatter from imperial pilots. Great work!

I've always loved the Empire Strikes Back radio dramas. Well, all three of them, TBH. Seeing this opening was truly remarkable! Thanks for an enjoyable short! I'm adding this to my SW playlist!

That was FANTASTIC!!! As a fan of the old radio drama, this was such a treat! Excellent work!!! :)

I don't get how some random youtuber can just make Star Wars videos that are a million times better than anything Disney and their billion$ can make over the last decade.

Wow! Just... wow! Thank you for your hard work Ryan Fletcher and Team SkyForge.

Three hits from a tie fighter shouldn't take out a transport. That being said great job on the visuals.

This is amazing. Truly amazing. Please, for the love of God, make more and give us all something we deserve ❤

Incredible work! Love seeing other adaptations of Expanded Universe material!

@saberiandream316

Жыл бұрын

It's certainly more faithful than Ahsoka will be to the Thrawn Trilogy.

@starwarsfananimations

Жыл бұрын

@@saberiandream316 word

@saberiandream316

Жыл бұрын

@@starwarsfananimations Filoni, no restraints, and the EU. This won't end well...

Nice! Always loved the radio plays, they were a staple of road trips with my father. Shows how good so much of the writing (thank you, wherever you are, Brian Daley) was. Love your modeling on Narra, and just the calm professionalism as he rattles off orders when the TIEs are coming in.

Been listening to the Radio Dramas for my entire life... seeing this is food for the soul. Beautiful work!

Managed to make the empire feel competent and scary, something disney seems to struggle with really hard.

@saberiandream316

Жыл бұрын

Filoni especially has a very hard time doing this.

Still better than Disney

@saberiandream316

Жыл бұрын

Guaranteed.

I love these little extra flavour shorts for the OT. Excellent work!

Nicely done! I've storyboarded this scene in my head more times than I can count since hearing SW/TESB:E1 back in '83 - I'm glad somebody actually put a bunch of time and effort and made this opening scene for real!!

AWESOME SHORT FILM! I LOVE how accessible creative CG tools are these days, cuz it gives extremely talented people the chance to do things that seemed impossible just a few years ago. Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us! 👍🙂🐧🐧

It feels like these animations get better and better with each installment. Keep up the good work!

That was incredible. Rare to see a fan film where the rebels get completely destroyed too

Amazing work and solid "conversion" of the Radio Drama- much props!

this animation of the ships looks as good as ILM, IMHO They looked as real a possible to me

Fantastic work. Very well done and so good to see a victory for the Empire! Long Live the Empire!

Easily the best Star Wars content I've seen in years. Fantastic job on this adaptation!

I love that you brought this radio drama to the big screen!

Finally the good guys won! Long Live the Empire!

Fantastic! You absolutely captured the opening to the radio drama. Well done!

Absolutely amazing, you continually get better and better!! Long Live the Empire!!

Definitely a great tribute to the beginning of that audiobook! Makes me want to listen to all of them for the OT and pick up on other things we didn't see in the films. =D

The Imperial sequence was so amazing I literally thought I was watching Star Wars Episode IV with deleted scenes for a blissful yet exhilarating moment. Can't wait for the next Fan Film! May the Force Be With You

I’ve been waiting. For someone like you to completely recreate the episode IV Death Star battle using this technology

👏👏👏 absolutely beautiful! Derra IV is such a fascinating battle. Thanks for a great video!

That was simply amazing it took time but you guys did a fantastic job. The teams deserves respect and a round of applause 👏🏻!

Absolutely brilliant execution and such a simple objective: visualize the classic audio drama! Honestly, I’d be stoked for more audio drama scene adaptations, like the Skyhopper race from the original OR a sweet adaptation of one of the great storyline missions in the X-Wing Alliance game (flying with Dash Rendar to steal the DS2 plans, escaping that one asteroid belt before the Executor catches the heroes, stealing shuttle Tyderium).

This short absolutely NAILS something that a lot of other fan films miss... the LIGHTING. Classic Star Wars has a very specific type of lighting for it's model work and this film has it in spades. Well done!

That was bloody awesome. Seeing regular TIEs kick some arse is awesome

Fabulous film. Brilliant CGI and nice for one seeing the Empire, actually win a space battle. SkyForge, 100% quality all round.