The Shockwave Rider
The Shockwave Rider is an animated opening sequence created based on a science fiction novel by John Brunner, originally published in 1975. The animation short depicts a dystopian future of the early 21st century America dominated by computer networks. The lighting, objects, and environment have been designed to reflect the aesthetics of the cyberpunk genre of the book. The hard-surface models capture the retro-futuristic theme of the book and supplement the symbolism of the story. The continuously interchanging colors of the lighting animation reflect the uneasy and tense lifestyle of many people during this period, including the hero himself who develops a symptom called “overload”. The continuous slow-motion camera movements have been digitally orchestrated to capture the moments of the hero's daily life and the environment that surrounds him.
