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A sleek, futuristic red and yellow sports car taking a sharp turn on a racetrack. The car features an aerodynamic design with a wide rear spoiler, large exhaust vents, and glowing rear lights. The track is bordered by metal barriers, and the background shows a blurred landscape.

June 2025 Artist of the Month: James Manolikas

Robot and custom car cinematic short by James Manolikas.

CGI Backgrounds Artist of the Month for June 2025: James Manolikas

This month, we’re excited to feature James Manolikas, a designer and 3D artist whose dynamic robot-meets-supercar project pushes storytelling, technical craft, and cinematic style.
A sleek, futuristic sports car with a red and yellow exterior speeding on a track. It has sharp, angular lines, large wheels, and illuminated front lights. The background is a blurred landscape with palm trees, suggesting high speed. The car's design is aerodynamic and modern.

From Robot to Race Track

For James, this piece started with a clear goal: build something different. He began by designing the robot first, then worked backward, expanding the floor to catch shadows and integrating a holographic driver to add sci-fi intrigue.
A red and black robotic figure with angular features and blue accents is partially rendered in a wireframe on the left side. It has sharp, blade-like appendages and a sleek, aerodynamic design. The background shows a blurred outdoor setting with palm trees and a clear sky.
The custom car in the scene is his own design, created during his university days. Every livery, every detail — all built by hand, showcasing James’s love for automotive design.
A sleek, futuristic red and yellow sports car taking a sharp turn on a racetrack. The car features an aerodynamic design with a wide rear spoiler, large exhaust vents, and glowing rear lights. The track is bordered by metal barriers, and the background shows a blurred landscape.

Speed, Sparks, and Cinematic Detail

The robot’s parts library came from his personal sketches, assembled to create a bold, dynamic silhouette that would feel alive even when standing still. Sparks were added in Blender, lens flares layered in After Effects, and final sound and cuts polished in Premiere Pro.
The setting — our Dynamic Curve on Mountain Race Track Scene — brought it all together.
A red and black robot with glowing accents stands on a racetrack next to a sleek, futuristic red sports car. The robot has sharp, angular features and is equipped with metallic armor. The sports car has a low profile, aerodynamic design, and illuminated details. The sky is clear and the background is blurred.
The setting — our Dynamic Curve on Mountain Race Track Scene — brought it all together. Reflections of moving cars, subtle suspension shifts, and Ken Block-inspired wheel spins create a sense of speed and tension. The light and location did the heavy lifting, giving James the freedom to focus on motion, mood, and cinematic storytelling.
Congratulations to James Manolikas, our June 2025 Artist of the Month.
Follow more of his work on Instagram , YouTube , and LinkedIn .

Try the same scene James used:

Dynamic Curve on Mountain Race Track Scene
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Author

  • Randal Cumming

    CEO/Co-Founder, CGI.Backgrounds

    Cumming has more than two decades of experience capturing, creating, and transforming product offerings and workflows for clients across the globe. As the CEO of CGI Backgrounds, Cumming leverages his institutional knowledge and experience to help businesses plan and execute interactive, 3D digital strategies that increase consumer engagement and achieve revenue growth goals.

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