Sintel

Sintel is the codename for Project Durian, a 2010 open-source computer-animated fantasy short film produced by the Blender Institute, part of the Blender Foundation. It is the third "open movie" project undertaken by the institute, designed to test and showcase the capabilities of the Blender software. The film is notable for its high production values, complex animation, and compelling narrative.

Sintel tells the story of a young woman, Sintel, who is on a quest to find a baby dragon she once cared for, who was captured by a fearsome adult dragon. The film explores themes of loss, determination, and the consequences of revenge.

The film's production was unique in that it was entirely funded by donations and pre-sales of the film itself, and all assets created during the production process, including models, textures, and animation rigs, were released under a Creative Commons Attribution license. This allows anyone to use, modify, and distribute the assets freely.

The release of Sintel was accompanied by a significant update to Blender, incorporating improvements and new features developed specifically for the film's production. The film and its associated assets have been widely used in educational settings and by independent animators as a resource for learning and experimentation with 3D animation.