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Developer(s) | Microsoft Kids Big Blue Dot (Nickelodeon 3D Movie Maker) |
---|---|
Initial release | 1995 |
Final release | ?
/ March 18, 1995 |
Repository | github |
Written in | C++ |
Engine |
|
Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
Available in | English French German Italian Japanese Russian Spanish |
Type | 3D computer graphics software |
License | MIT License (formerly Proprietary) |
3D Movie Maker (commonly shortened to 3DMM) is a children's computer program developed by Microsoft Home's Microsoft Kids subsidiary released in 1995. Using the program, users can make films by placing 3D characters and props into pre-rendered environments, as well as adding actions, sound effects, music, text, speech and special effects. Movies are then saved in the .3mm file format.
The program features two helper characters to guide users through the various features of the program: The character McZee (voiced by Michael Shapiro), shared from other Microsoft Kids products like Creative Writer, provides help throughout the studio while his assistant Melanie provides other various tutorials. In Nickelodeon 3D Movie Maker, the user is instead guided by Stick Stickly.
Developed in accordance with Microsoft's broader ambitions towards multimedia software in conjunction with the release of its then-new Windows 95 home computer operating system, 3D Movie Maker is built on BRender, a software rasterized 3D graphics engine created by Argonaut Software. The models and backgrounds were made by Illumin8 Digital Pictures (a now-defunct graphics studio) using Softimage modeling software, while the cinematic introduction and help sequences were made by Productions Jarnigoine, a now-inactive production company founded by Jean-Jacques Tremblay. In 1998, a user named Space Goat created the website 3dmm.com that allows users to upload movies and mods for 3DMM. 3dmm.com is still used today by many 3DMM enthusiasts.
Following the open-sourcing of the licensed BRender engine prior in similar fashion,[1][2] Microsoft released the source code of the program under the MIT License in May 2022,[3][4] following a request by Foone Turing on Twitter a month earlier.[5]