This is a movie made and released for free under the creative commons license.  Made with free software [Blender] by regular (very talented) people.

It's about 60% of the way there in comparison to a Pixar movie.  No words, slightly simplified graphics, slightly amateurish acting.  But I'm splitting hairs, it's great.

Here is the project Blog: http://www.bigbuckbunny.org/

Ties right in with Clay Shirky's Cognitive Surplus speech: [linky]

They didn't shy away from the cartoon aspect, they embraced it. Went for it. and...well we'll have to see.

The envelope was seriously pushed in Pirates of the Caribbean 3.

That scene was probably the biggest cinematic event that's happened to date.  Up until about 20 years ago there was only one side, and that was us, and now there's two sides.  and uh it's made movies better.

John Frazier - Effects Specialist, of the physical/mechanical variety.

Wired Article: How Physics and Computers bring an Ocean to Life for the Movies

Ok, I'm a geek, but I was at first psyched at Jackson doing the Hobbit then angry when the deal fell through.  Now it looks like New Line Cinemas and Jackson have buried the hatchet for the money and agreed to make the movie.

Sweet!