Gotta give respect when respect is due! And damn… these 3D artists deserve all the respect in the world for their contributions to the “Internet’s largest CG challenge.” Hosted by graphic artist and motion designer Clinton Jones, aka pwnisher on YouTube, this viral CG internet challenge is truly a sight to behold.

Over the course of a month, Jones threw down the digital gauntlet in the CG community with his “Alternate Realities CG challenge” as he provided a base starter animation of a humanoid trudging along a barren landscape under a large orb. It wasn’t too much visually, but to many, it offered worlds of possibilities.

We’ll dive into some more details about the project, but first, you simply need to check out the top 100 3D renders from this CG challenge below.

The Alternate Realities CG Challenge

So, there’s a lot to explore here. We have 100 of the top renders representing work from some of the best 3D and CG artists in the world.

All of them go off the same base plate, which you can see here on the top image.

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These top selections run the gamut from werewolves to space explorers to medieval warriors. You can see the insane amount of passion, ingenuity, and creativity packed into each composition, as each seven-second clip feels like it contains an entire narrative story.

In total, Jones says that over 2,400 artists ultimately submitted compositions, which he had to whittle down to the top 100—with the top five winning prizes from 3D animation and motion companies like Rokoko, Wacom, Quixel, PNY, and Aftershokz.

You can watch the winning selections at the timestamps below.

If you’re looking for extra creative motivation, you can actually watch all 2,400 submissions below, as well.

Getting Started in 3D Motion and VFX

If you’re like me, watching these compositions is super inspiring. Each clip really showcases so many unique thoughts and ideas which, when juxtaposed, really makes you want to see what you could come up with yourself.

However, like many who have only dabbled in 3D motion and design, these top-end animations do seem light-years away from what you might be able to learn in an afternoon. But don’t let that thought stop you from trying to pick up some new skills on your own!

Clinton Jones’ pwnisher YouTube channel truly is a great place to start, and as he states at the end of his Top 100 video, he’s more than happy to help out newcomers as he breaks down how he creates compositions like his own submission to the project.

You can also start honing your skills in more familiar programs like Adobe After Effects before graduating to more advanced 3D software like Cinema 4D, Autodesk Maya, or Blender. 

Here are some great No Film School articles and tutorials to start you off on your own journey.

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