> The Element 3d demo reel is impressive for something that is rendered out of AE but not that impressive as far as 3d rendering in general goes.

While that’s true, the missing context is the cost of the tools and the expertise required to deliver shots vs. other solutions puts Element 3d’s bang for the buck far beyond any solution I know of. If you are like many AE users – good to strong AE skills, middling to none 3D skills, Element allows a huge ROI vs a full blown Maya, Lightwave, Cinema4D setup.

Personally, I think Element 3D sell like hotcakes – both in taking business from the mid to low end of 3D users in motion graphics, VFX as well as adding far more users to the party. Sure, we’ll see the same shots a bazillion times, but that happens with every tool that changes the price/performance/entry skill level barrier e.g. Shine which changed the AE plugin landscape.