The surge of 3d modelling and animating software’s was a big frontier in the world of motion design, from animation to advertising to cinema, it has been seen to be big game changer to the whole business. Now a days most videos are watched on mute because of thumbnails and scrolling in social media, brands now a days have to change tactics and move more visually pleasing videos. Companies now a days require and need to have at hand high end illustrative ways of representing their brand or story in the case of cinema. The possibility of 3d programs to create highly realistic 3d graphics/ 3d motion, that easily relates the viewer to reality makes the narrative appear more appealing and eye-catching.
3D animation has enabled unimaginable possibilities designing and showcasing commercials and storytelling, mixing 2d and 3d graphics to create high end realistic animation videos that completely amaze viewers. It has unlimited the possibilities for motion design, literally anything can be made now a days, all made with computer graphics, people can bring their imagination to reality. From a more cartoony style to ultra-realistic animation or even VFX.
One of the most interesting and hardest of these processes is the usage of VFX. I will showcase and explain the different possibilities for the industry.
VFX is the usage of visual effects for movies ( especially used in Hollywood movies) it is especially used with the combination of live action video captured shots with objects created in 3d software’s from creating movies with hyper realistic representations of such things as environments and characters. This started in the 1980’s in the movies industry and has since evolved to become one of the leading reasons to catch the viewers attention.
This process only happens at the post-production stage of the process, but it requires to be carefully planned and choreographed in the production and during the shooting of the scenes.
This scene from the movie “Interstellar” directed by Christopher Nolan, VFX by DNEG, about space travelling showcases some jaw-breaking examples of VFX from truly realistic spaceship, realistic time warping and scientifically accurate space oddities such as a black hole and even a realistic but also abstract scene in the “4th dimension”. The usage of VFX in this movie is truly beautiful, it makes the storytelling truly appealing and immersive for the viewer.
While VFX can be used to immerge the actors into various different fictitious environments like avatar, it can also introduce highly accurate monsters, aliens or other fictitious characters. (Great example like “Hobbit” trilogy, “Star Wars”, “War for the planet of the apes”,” Avatar”). A great example is of the “The jungle book” (2016), by Jon Favreau, VFX by MPC and Weta Digital, shows how animals can be given realistic and human like attitudes without the viewer recognizing the difference between reality and fiction. Creating realistic hair like gravity to the animal’s fur. This scene from the movie really shows how a giant orangutan can be super well animated like a human.
There are various techniques used to best aid the process of VFX. Most of these require certain specifications during the shooting of the scenes so that VFX can easily integrate the visual effects. From using green (or blue) screens to combine 3D scenes with 2D scenes;
Prosthetic makeup applied to character, using sensors attached to people, VFX can properly emulate the human like movments that are then attached the 3D graphics that follow those sensors.
Matte painting which essentially is 2d shots cut up and placed with depth to give idea of a 3d environment.
Digital compositing is assembling digital assets and live-action footage to bring together a shot for a film or game.
There are infinite possibilities now a days for what 3D elements and animation can do, it has turned the world of animation and cinema around. Now a days movies can be disregarded for their story, but the VFX can completely change that, Hollywood movies spend a lot of money on Visual effects because it keeps people entertained to watch the unimaginable happen.
https://www.cgspectrum.com/blog/what-is-compositing
https://www.imediabay.com/creative-blogs/present-and-future-of-creative-advertising.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_effects
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer-generated_imagery#Architectural_scenes
Samuel WorkWeek blog - Research 