CyberWorld
A 3D animated anthology film presented by Intel.
In 2000, Intel presented CyberWorld, an American 3D animated anthology film for IMAX and IMAX 3D. IMAX converted several 2D segments into 3D. The film’s website called it the first 3D animated IMAX movie.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Colin Davies; Elaine Despins
- Screenplay
- Charlie Rubin
- Steve Hoban
- Hugh Murray
- Story
- Hugh Murray
- Todd Alcott
- Additional story work:
- Mark Smith
- Producer
- Steve Hoban; Hugh Murray
- Starring
- Jenna Elfman
- Matt Frewer
- Robert Smith
- Dave Foley
- Music
- Paul Haslinger; Hummie Mann
- Distributor
- IMAX Corporation; 20th Century Fox (credit only)
- Released
- 6 October 2000
Facts from the source article.
Plot
A guide named Phig introduces the audience to the CyberWorld, a futuristic museum of infinite possibilities. Three mischievous computer bugs—Buzzed, Wired, and Frazzled—attempt to consume the CyberWorld through its number coding. Phig learns of them and hunts the destructive bugs while presenting short premade clips of computer-animated productions, including scenes from Antz and the CGI parts of the "Homer³" segment from The Simpsons episode "Treehouse of Horror VI". The bugs ultimately create a black hole (the one seen in "Homer³"), which kills them. Phig is nearly swallowed but technician Hank reboots the system just as she is sucked into the vortex. Phig concludes by announcing no more problems, but when she requests her battle gear, she receives a pink bunny outfit, a trick the bugs had played earlier. The film also includes the music video of the Pet Shop Boys song "Liberation", the short "Monkey Brain Sushi" by Brummbaer at Sony Pictures Imageworks, "KraKKen: Adventure of Future Ocean" by ExMachina, "Joe Fly" by Spans & Partner, "Flipbook and Waterfall City" by Satoshi Kitahara, and "Tonight's Performance" by REZN8.
Reception
CyberWorld pulled in $11,253,900 at the domestic box office and $5,400,000 overseas, for a worldwide total of $16,653,900. On Rotten Tomatoes, 55% of 11 critics gave it a positive review, with an average score of 6.18/10. Metacritic assigned a weighted score of 55 out of 100 based on 13 critics, labeling it "mixed or average." Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times commended the film for showcasing what 3D technology can do, especially praising the immersive effect of the six-story IMAX screens. In contrast, Paul Tatara of CNN.com criticized the heavy reliance on 3D effects, warning that viewers might feel sick to their stomachs.
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