THE SCRIPT, CINEMATOGRAPHY, AND ADHERENCE TO SUPERMAN’S AESTHETIC ARE PRAISED BY VIEWERS.
A fan-made Superman movie that has gotten out of control is so well-done that you might be excused for believing it was a genuine game leak.
The brothers Antonis and Stavros Fylladitis used Unreal Engine 5 to create the three and a half-minute short film, Superman Awakens. Unaware that the movie was unofficial, DC fans were understandably thrilled when a clip appeared on ResetEra. Superman Rises has great animation and sound effects that make it seem like it just came from a professional trailer.
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Everyone else didn’t realize that Superman Awakens was created by two highly brilliant fans and not by some large gaming studio until another person published a link to the Unreal Engine subreddit.
Daniel Zbel, who plays Superman, does an excellent job of narrating the short video as he struggles with his inner demons. He berates himself for failing to live up to the praise showered upon him and for disappointing the people he loves and who have loved him. Before gathering himself and rising once more, he wonders if the world still requires Superman.
Gritty images and thoughtful cinematography transform a potentially corny subject into something completely original. As Superman Awakens is as brief as it is impactful, it’s understandable why some people would have mistaken it for a feature-length animated film or a cinematic trailer for a future video game.
