There are two keys to making a great short film.

1) Make sure you have a good story.
2) Make sure it looks fantastic.

Archetype blows by each of those expectations.

The film explores one possible future scenario of robot/human relations where A.I. becomes self-actualized and mankind struggles to co-exist with their metallic friends.

Here’s the official synopsis:

RL7 is an eight-foot tall combat robot that goes on the run after malfunctioning with vivid memories of once being human. As its creators and the military close in, RL7 battles its way to uncovering the shocking truth behind its mysterious visions and past.

The short is a product of Aaron Sims, the man behind some of the CGI creatures from Green Lantern, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Sucker Punch, and now, believe it or not, he’s working on creating Archetype into a feature film.

Sims created the short on a budget of nothing but somehow created something quite special.