Back in the METU (Budapest Metropolitan University) we had a task, to creade a 2 minute animation about the word "Exodus" The genre and the techique were free to choose, then I used some 3D animation and basicly "Grinded" the whole project in a single weekend (that's why the renders are not perfect, so do I had no professional PC back in those days).
With no sleep, I finishied it in 50 hours. The teacher thought that I did cheat somehow, because he only announced the task on friday.
Well... if a job has to be done, then it's has to be done. :D