"MAGAPOLIS” takes us on a reimagined journey back to the Golden Age of Science Fiction. This is the re-created 3D episodic series of Fritz Lang’s 1927 gem “Metropolis”. We endeavored to retain the original film’s iconic and cinematic Science Fiction splendor, done exclusively with 3D digital animation and not AI – by human hands and countless hours – reimagining this iconic Sci-Fi adventure, 100 years from when it was originally produced.
Trailers and images from the world of MAGAPOLIS.
“MAGAPOLIS” takes us on a nostalgic journey back to the Golden Age of Science Fiction. This re-imagined 3D episodic series of Fritz Lang’s 1927 gem “Metropolis”, retains its charm and delivers a classic blend of adventure and wonder.
We are honored to present the premiere of Chapter One of this series of MAGAPOLIS™ on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 8PM CST on the ShoutOut3D YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/@shoutout3d550
Hundreds of hours have gone into this first chapter and we are currently in production on the remaining Chapters of MAGAPOLIS - our work is ongoing. Your support is welcome in the form of likes, comments and shares! We are a self-funded, highly specialized animation studio, the result of just two people, (REAL HUMANS, NOT AI) - and if you appreciate our work, please comment and share it after the premiere.
In MAGAPOLIS™, we have re-named the characters and some of the locations to reflect the world we live in 100 years after Fritz Lang's original silent film "METROPOLIS" was produced. (The characters and events depicted in this series are fictitious. Any similarity to any person living or dead is merely coincidental.)
The lead characters of Maria and Freder have become Katrina and Jonathan. Joh (the ruler of Metropolis) has become “Dramph” (the ruler of MAGAPOLIS) References to “factories” have become “data centers”, The ‘New Tower of Babel’ has become “The Tower of Babble”, all in an effort to reimagine the original work and reveal the irony of its themes as they relate to our ever-changing modern world.
What is remarkable, is that the entire series is accomplished WITHOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. Rather, with ‘old school’ digital animation, hand-set key frames, character modeling, hand-crafted sets and camera animation, all human-produced, the result of just TWO PEOPLE (Producer-Director Donna Freeberg & Director-Animator Scott Taylor).
The 3D animation adds a fresh layer to the film, highlighting the futuristic aesthetics of the time. Katrina, with a heart of gold, steals the show with her endearing tenacity, reminiscent of a bygone era in courage.
The plot, while simple, taps into the universal theme of human-capitalist relations. Jonathan and Katrina form a heartwarming bond that resonates with audiences even today. It’s a testament to the timeless appeal of genuine connections.
And let’s not forget the captivating visual effects of the era. The miniature sets and practical effects might seem quaint by today’s standards, but they bring a certain authenticity to the adventure. The film embraces its limitations and turns them into strengths.
“MAGAPOLIS” doesn’t rely on flashy CGI or complex plots. It thrives on the simplicity of its narrative, allowing the audience to engage with its characters and their quest. It’s a delightful journey through the lens of early 20th-century sci-fi sensibilities.
While some may argue that the pacing feels a tad slow by modern standards, it’s essential to appreciate “MAGAPOLIS” for what it is—an enchanting time capsule that captures the essence of a genre that paved the way for the sci-fi epics we enjoy today. That said, it is impossible to ignore the irony and truth of the story as it moves on in our modern world.
In the end, “MAGAPOLIS” is a MIRROR, A REFLECTION OF AN AGE OLD STORY, a sci-fi adventure that transcends its time. Whether you’re a fan of classic cinema or just looking for a mirror-reality in the 21st century, this stark journey into the past/present/future is well worth the watch.
“MAGAPOLIS” is a reminder that sometimes, simplicity and sincerity are the keys to creating enduring cinematic magic—AND CHANGE.
Production trivia from behind the scenes.
There are twenty-five characters in CHAPTER ONE ‘Garden of MAGAPOLIS’ scene, and 15,000 droplets of water spewing from the fountains. It took approximately 22 seconds to render one frame (1/24 of a second of footage), and the footage is visible in the scene for about twenty seconds (480 frames). At 24 frames per second, 480 frames × 22 seconds per frame is approximately 2.9 hours to render just 20 seconds of this scene. [Mac M1 Mini, Blender]
The production period for MAGAPOLIS Chapter One began on Jun 22, 2026. The idea began with the building of the factory "data center" set, initially it was a self-assigned challenge to see if the set could be built in Blender, and imported as an image sequence in Blender's video editor. Then reducing the color saturation, adding a vignette, and some transparent film noise, and a circle gradient to give the illusion of an old silent film.
We were determined and committed to build the entire series without the use of AI (Artificial Intelligence apps), but rather using 3D Animation techniques in Blender. Thus, we were able to have control over and hand-craft each detail in every scene.
The music for MAGAPOLIS Chapter one is an edited soundtrack using public domain recordings of composers Richard Wagner (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg), Bucktown Five (Hot Mittens) and original music by Scott Taylor. The soundtrack was edited and mixed by Scott Taylor and mastered by Phil Solem.
The goal was to produce at least ten seconds of 3D animation per day, slowly developing the story line image sequences that were then brought into the video editor to produce an .mp4 of that day's work for review and notes/revisions.
The MAGAPOLIS series, while inspired by Fritz Lang's "METROPOLIS", aims to bring the story into a contemporary world, while retaining the style and Art Deco imagery of the original silent film.