If you’re hyped for the release of Predator: Badlands this weekend, there’s an extra treat that every Predator fan should check out. A cool new fan-made animated short titled Predator: Fire and Stone has been released, and it delivers a brutal and beautifully animated face-off between a Predator and an Engineer from Prometheus.
This 3½-minute short is the work of a team of young international filmmakers led by Luis B. Vega, known online as Mr. Vega, from Lima, Peru. Vega directed and created the 3D animation using Blender, pulling off some seriously impressive visuals for an indie production.
The film also features mocap and sound design from Bauan Edits and an original score by Fuzzeke, whose pulsing synth soundtrack fits the fight perfectly.
According to the description on YouTube, “An epic encounter between a Predator and an Engineer.” It’s inspired by the Dark Horse Comics crossover event Fire and Stone from 2015, written by Joshua Williamson with art by Christopher Mooneyham.
The short also nods to the animation style seen in Predator: Killer of Killers, directed by Dan Trachtenberg and co-directed by Josh Wassung.
There’s not a ton of story here, it’s just a lean, intense battle between two of sci-fi’s most fearsome species. An Engineer lands on a hostile world, only to be ambushed by a Yautja Predator.
What follows is a vicious back-and-forth that shows off some clever choreography, cool lighting, and a final outcome that’s… well, exactly what Predator fans would expect.
Vega’s animation chops and attention to detail make this short worth a watch. For fans of Predator, Prometheus, and ambitious indie animation, this short is a reminder of how much creativity is in the fan community.
It’s a quick hit of action that captures everything we love about this franchise.
