LogInCheck out what our readers loved the most this year.
It's almost the end of the year, and this means it's time for our annual 80 Level Digest, where we show you the best art presented by extremely talented artists this year. Usually, we choose our favorites, but this time, we've collected works that awed you, our readers.
Life-like 3D characters, stunning environments, anatomy studies, and much more are waiting for you under the Christmas tree – picked based on what caught your attention the most.
So grab a flute of champagne, get comfy, and enjoy the top most beloved artworks of the year!
C4D-Made Horror Animation by Majid Mousavi
If you visit 80 Level frequently, you can probably guess our first winner. Majid Mousavi captured many creative hearts with this stunning animation that combines realistic graphics and horror in a sequence that looks like a real-life video. After publication, we saw many people saying this should be shown as an ad against reckless driving, and we can definitely understand why. Watch it and drive carefully!
Anime Girl Playing With Blender's UI by Kensyouen_Y
Another artist who stayed on top of our most-visited articles list for many days is Kensyouen_Y. This anime girl messing with Blender blew up X/Twitter, attracting over 20 million views there. This is not only a testament to creative thinking but also the artist's Blender mastery. Be careful with your 3D characters, they might not enjoy being pocked at.
Tifa Lockhart 3D Rig With Only 30 Deformation Bones by A$AP BERG
No gaming list is ever complete without Final Fantasy, and our art digest is no exception. A$AP BERG's Tifa Lockhart received her fair share of admiration – not only for her pretty face but also for the fact that there are fewer than 30 bones in the rig, and her expressions are still nice and natural. Great work!
Courage the Cowardly Dog's Spookiest Scene Recreated in 3D by GibbsonTV
Next on our list is a scene that brought back pleasant memories to many readers who spent their free time watching cartoons back in the day. 3D Animator GibbsonTV touched our nostalgic feels with one of the creepiest scenes in Courage the Cowardly Dog – the "Return the Slab." Even if you haven't watched the series, this Blender animation is worth acquainting yourself with.
Great 3D Model of Arcane's Jinx by Mauricio Ataíde
Arcane has ended, leaving us wondering about its glorious evolution, but back when it was still a flicker of anticipation, Character Artist and 3D Modeler Mauricio Ataíde showcased his take on Jinx, as cool but at the same time vulnerable as she ended up being in the series.
Baldur's Gate 3's Astarion as a Real Person by Natallia Sudas
Jinx is not the only character from a famous saga: Natallia Sudas entertained the idea of Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3 as a real person. His expressive eyes and pointy ears are still here in Sudas's ZBrush sculpt, but you can't argue he looks much more approachable in flesh and blood, which he probably sucked from a poor smitten fan.
Realistic Wintery Scene Created With Unreal Engine 5 by FloorYUKA
We all know the power of Unreal Engine and what it can bring to life, and FloorYUKA's nearly photorealistic winter scene is solid proof. This might as well be a real street half-hidden by a blizzard with help from Sky Creator, Dmitry Karpukhin's plug-in that allows you to control dynamic weather and time of day using realistic volumetric clouds, atmosphere, and visual effects.
Digital City in Blender by Battery Tea
3D projects can take a while, but Battery Tea's Blender city Statville deserves a special mention as it has been in progress for a whole year. This is a case of those viral TikTok videos where people do something as many times as they have followers. The more fans the project has on Instagram, the more citizens Battery Tea introduces. Honestly, watching this time-lapse is really satisfying, so go do it!
Incredible Realistic UE5 Environment Demo by Web3D
After watching this video, you might think it's enough internet for the day – that's how Web3D's environment demo can fool the eye. It looks like real-life footage, but it's actually a real-time simulation inside Unreal Engine 5 done with Megascans assets and the Ultra Dynamic Sky plug-in. "UE5 never felt so buttery," says the caption, and this describes the feat perfectly.
Digital Muscles Demo by Chris Jones
Last but not least, Character Artist and 3D Animator Chris Jones amazed us and our readers with his impressively detailed human muscle simulation. There's a lot of flexing going on – not only from the 3D model but also from the artist who managed to translate the movements so smoothly. This is art – for anatomy studies or pure enjoyment.
Here are our readers' picks this year. Which is your favorite? Share with us and join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.