Resources
♦ Contents: ♦ Print ♦ Online articles ♦ Videos ♦ Websites & Galleries ♦
"Inside 'The Works': NYIT's Experimental Computer Graphics Extravaganza" by Suzan D. Prince, published in Computer Pictures magazine, March/April 1983
An article detailing the behind-the-scenes of making the film, from when it was still being produced.
"The Junkmen Cometh" by Suzan D. Prince, published in Video Games magazine, November 1983
Another article from Prince, talking about the technology used in the making of the film. This article offers that the film may be completed "in the next year or so".
"Moving Innovation: A History of Computer Animation" by Tom Sito, published by MIT Press, 2013
Chapter 8 of this book, titled "To Dream the Impossible Dream: The New York Institute of Technology, 1974-1986" details the history of the NYIT CGL and their various projects, from Tubby the Tuba to The Works (including concept art!) to 3DV to Strawberry Fields.
This book is available on the Internet Archive to logged in users here. The publisher's official page for the book is here.
"Creative Computer Graphics" by Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton, published by Cambridge University Press, 1984
NYIT CGL's projects are discussed in this book, which was written by the creators of the character Max Headroom. User Friendly from 3DV is featured on the cover/dust jacket.
As far as I know, this book isn't available in a digital format online.
"High Resolution Graphics", Byte magazine Volume 05 number 11, November 1980
Ipso Facto & the Ant are featured on this magazine cover. The Works is also mentioned on page 4. Other than that, there's not much about it inside.
"The Third NCGA and the Future of Computer Graphics" by Alexander Pournelle, published in Byte magazine Volume 7 number 11 "Graphics", November 1982
The Works is mentioned briefly on page 42 of this magazine. The article discusses the present state of computer graphics, as reflected in the National Computer Graphics Association's third annual meeting, where portions of The Works were shown.
"The Works" film treatment written by Lance Williams, 1978
A link to the screenplay on Google Drive. It's 83 pages long and 231MB large, in the form of scans of the physical pages. No preview is available so you have to download it to read it. I also have a text version on my website that can be read in-browser.
I use the phrases "script" and "screenplay" alternatingly to refer to it on this website, but it is more of a film treatment, a novel-like story to pitch a film. I think it's possible an actual script exists, but there's no confirmation on that.
▲ Creative Computer Graphics, image courtesy of ComputingHistory.org.uk.
Online Articles
"Out of This World" by Joseph C. Panettieri, published by NYIT Magazine, 2004
A retrospective article about life at NYIT's Computer Graphics Lab.
"The Works (film)" on Wikipedia
A good starting place that covers all the basics in classic Wikipedia fashion. Includes partial film credits. (If you can read Italian, the Italian version is even longer.)
"The Works (partially found unfinished computer-animated film; 1979-1986)" on the Lost Media Wiki
Another Wiki-type article, a bit briefer but with more references. Under "References" is linked the treatment/script.
Another article with similar information is a Spanish article from Galería 3D from June 2010, which sadly does not cite any sources.
Videos
""The Works' Ant" (segment from unfinished proto-pixar film)" 1:25, uploaded by Red Rax - Max Meyer, 11 December 2022
A scene depicting robots building a strange dish. This is the only seemingly finished scene I know of, and it has its own soundtrack and sound effects. I call it the construction clip.
An older, lower-quality upload from 10 February 2009 can be found uploaded by galeria3D here.
This clip itself is from "Computer Animation Classics" from 1997, which can be seen in full on Archive.org here.
"The Works", 2:23, uploaded by Rich S, 16 October 2013
A trailer or demo reel compiling various animations, set to "Impact" by Patrick Moraz. Most of the animation featured here is specific to The Works, some not, but all are related to the CGL.
"N.Y Tech Computer Graphics lab demo reel 1982", 21:57, uploaded by mattrharris1, 22 June 2014.
A lengthy demo reel showcasing various graphics made by the Lab. At 16:50 is a clip of the ant extending its antennae.
Here is a clip of just the ant, isolated by Mod Wallet on YouTube, 29 August 2023.
"The Works (Teaser, 1980)", 2:02, uploaded by Ziggy, 28 March 2024
(*Flashing warning*) A short teaser-trailer for The Works from early in its development. The robot Wilbur features in it, and there are a few unique shots not seen in other videos! It has flashing lights before ending with about 45 seconds of dark silence.
"Interface (1985) - First human and CGI character interaction", 0:22, uploaded by Ultimate History of CGI, 19 February 2018
A short shown at the 1985 SIGGRAPH convention demonstrating the interaction of CGI characters and live-action environments. The model of Clyde/the Ant Jockey is used as their demonstration character.
Honourable mention: "Computer Graphics Lab CGL 3DV demo", 5:37, uploaded by mattrharris1, 7 July 2023
(*Flashing warning*) "3DV" is another animation by the Lab, from 1984. It features a trailer for The Works (the same footage as the Rich S video above, but shortened) including a voice-over of the plot. Robot and ship models from The Works are used throughout the rest of the video.
Honourable mention: "Strawberry Fields Works in Progress Reel", 30:45, uploaded to the Internet Archive by ZiggyCashmere and contributed by an anonymous source, 11 March 2024
"Strawberry Fields" is another cancelled film from the Lab, this reel from 1989 being shared online very recently. Intended to be fully CGI but winding up a hybrid of 2D and 3D animation, various models and footage from other Lab projects are used throughout it. I believe the scene at the very end of saucers chasing each other over a lake was intended for The Works.
NYIT CGL's 1986 demo reel (*flashing warning*) includes brief clips from The Works, but nothing new, just in slightly different quality.
The 1981 episode of BBC's "Horizon", titled "Painting by Numbers", shares information on the computer graphics scene of the day. The NYIT CGL has a spotlight, where some personnel are interviewed and there is brief talk of The Works. Some animations-in-progress are shown.
The 1996 CGI compilation/musical film "Imaginit" features footage from various CGL projects, including unique animations of the Ant model, the car chase scene from Strawberry Fields, and more. See the credits at the end of the film for specific titles and artists!
Sites & Galleries
Pictures from the New York Institute of Technology Computer Graphics Lab, by Paul Heckbert, June 1998
Great high-quality images from The Works and other projects made at NYIT CGL! Links to other information & sites as well.
New York Institute of Technology, by Wayne Carlson (archived 2001)
A list of staff from NYIT CGL and some interesting pictures. Click the "image" icon to be redirected to the actual image.
The Works, by Rebecca Allen
Artist Rebecca Allen's portfolio site featuring a slideshow of high-quality The Works-related images. More pictures from CGL projects are available there, too.
▲ A still from NYIT CGL's 1982 demo of their Images software.