Source Filmmaker

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Synonyms: SFM
See also: Saxxy Awards, Valve Fandom, Animation
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Source Filmmaker, or SFM, is 3D animation software developed by Valve and released as an open beta in 2012. The program had been used by Valve to produce promotional material for their games, including the "Meet the Team" videos for Team Fortress 2. Fans have used SFM to produce countless animated shorts over the years.

The program is similar to Garry's Mod, a 3D sandbox game that is also used to make videos for Valve's video games and other media.

Types of SFM Fanworks

Source Filmmaker is primarily meant as an animation tool. As such, the most high-profile works produced using it are animations. The program can also be used to pose models for still images such as posters; sites such as DeviantArt and Tumblr contain high quantities of SFM-produced images in certain fandoms.

While SFM was intended to be used for fan films using Valve's settings and characters, it has been adopted by animators and artists of many other fandoms; Overwatch is just one example of a non-Valve fandom that is home to many SFM shorts.

Notable Fanworks Made with SFM

Overwatch

Team Fortress 2

  • Emesis Blue: a psychological horror film. Possibly the first feature-length film made using SFM.
  • Requiem for a Pizza: a duology of absurdist comedy shorts.