Here’s the link to the animation:
http://gallery.mudpuddle.co.nz/albums/public/LT2K_02a.wmv
(note: sorry for the low rez/low bitrate… server requirements 
… the full quality version (like the images below) is soooo nice! Blender can do such a quality job!)
[Edit2]Here’s a link to a full-quality (divx) version: here (in case anyone “from the future” happens upon this thread… 
) [/Edit2]
and a couple of screenshots:
(or gallery links if the images don’t work…)
http://gallery.mudpuddle.co.nz/view_photo.php?full=1&set_albumName=mzungu&id=LT2K_frm01
http://gallery.mudpuddle.co.nz/view_photo.php?full=1&set_albumName=mzungu&id=LT2K_frm02
(Thanks to AllTaken for the great server resource to Blender users!!!)
This is my first attempt at a “big” animation in Blender. The subject is a piece of equipment designed for my employer five years ago in AutoCAD 2000. I created this animation mostly to demonstrate the commercial visualization capabilities of Blender. I used this machine model only because I thought it provided a visually interesting example, it was readily available, and it was relatively easy to put in motion. I exported the model from AutoCAD to .3ds format and then into Blender with Bob Holcomb’s excellent v0.5 importer.
Because it uses area lights and AO, it took close to 3 weeks to render (dividing it up and running segments overnight and over the weekends on my employer’s workstation.) Thus, even though its a first version and still needs many details and refinements, it may be a while before I’m inspired to improve it and re-render it. I thot I’d put it out there for you all to see and make C&C on. I’ll compile a list of ideas and maybe someday revisit the project.
My own ideas include adding a door frame, certain material tweaks and a change in the camera’s motion (I would like it to pause when it first approaches the machine and looks inside - that seems to be the most interesting viewpoint.) Other room details would be good to add as well - to make it look more like a processing facility. I will probably also look at motion blur to make it appear smoother. DOF would be great, as well - I’m just not sure how to best implement it in such a project.
Sorry for the low quality web-version video. It really does look much better at its native NTSC DVD rez. Thanks, thanks, thanks to Ton and the wonderful programmers who’re making Blender possible & available. Its Awesome!
I was wanting the best quality I could get… I’ll get it off right away and post a new version on Monday. The screenshots will have to suffice for now… sorry again!