Check out this visualization of a katana created by a Reddit user known as EdenDWhite.
The artist admired the craftsmanship required to make a katana and thus decided to create a digital version of the weapon. The animated prop looks photorealistic and features lifelike shiny surfaces, accurately replicating real-life metal and stone.
The visualization was made with Blender, a free and open-source 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software. The artist explained that the details on the guard were made with Normal Maps.
Take a look at other artist's animations created using Blender:
