In nuce: VFX service provider Rising Sun Pictures (rspvfx for short) has released an almost three-and-a-half-minute VFX breakdown for the third season of the superhero streaming series The Boys. Based on the comic books of the same name by creative minds Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, the series tells the story of the CIA commando “The Boys”, which confronts marauding (anti)superheroes in what will soon be four seasons. Just like the series, the VFX breakdown is not stingy with its explicit – yet humorously exaggerated – depiction of violence.

Click further: In the past, readers of Digital Production have repeatedly marvelled at the eye-catching visual effects that are let off the proverbial leash by VFX service provider rspvfx. See below:

• 8.03.2022: If Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski only knew it: Rising Sun Picturesis filming the Amazon with wet VFXs (for the Disney film Jungle Cruise).
• 28.02.2022: For the War of the Stars series Andor, VFX house Rising Sun Pictures overthrows the empire together with the rebellion.

Rising Sun Pictures (RSP) The Boys (Season 3) VFX Breakdowns

The post The Boys | VFX Breakdown first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: Visual effects service provider Framestore has released an almost two-minute VFX breakdown for the Netflix mini-series Kaleidoscope – in which bees buzz around, a pump gun is loaded and a fire is started.

In toto: In Kaleidoscope, a gang of thieves put their heads together to pull off a 7-billion-dollar heist. The heist series tells the story of the preparation, execution and aftermath of the large-scale robbery. What is special about the way the series is presented and narrated is that the eight episodes of the first season do not follow a set order. The individual episodes are not numbered, but colour-coded. Author and screenwriter Eric Garcia, whose novels were the basis for the black comedy Matchstick Men (by director Ridley Scott) and the science fiction thriller Repo Men (by director Miguel Sapochnik), is primarily responsible for developing the material. Other series content on Netflix, such as the film Bandersnatch from the Black Mirror series, also uses interactive storytelling.

Clicked further: In the past, Digital Production has repeatedly reported on the creative work of Framestore’s VFX artists – for example, as part of a technical discussion with Framestore’s then Senior VFX Producer about the sci-fi film Edge of Tomorrow.

• 16.02.2022: Framestore kills Tom Cruise: We look to London – and to the effects of the sci-fi gem Edge of Tomorrow, in which Tom Cruise dies a thousand deaths.
• 28.05.2021: Design Studio Reel: With the silver arrow among the design portfolios to the pole position.

Framestore’s ‘Kaleidoscope’ show and tell breakdown reel

The post Kaleidoscope | VFX Breakdown first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: The VFX service provider Redefine (own spelling: ReDefine) has released a VFX breakdown for the streaming series Halo – including sci-fi-tastic battles in the air, on the ground and in the first-person perspective.

In toto: As in the original game, the Halo series tells the story of the armed conflict between humans and an alien civilisation called the Covenant. In terms of dramaturgy, Halo draws its viewers in with a mixture of action and drama. The series is set in a speculative 26th century. The protagonist is John-117, aka Master Chief, the iconic hero from the video game series. The series adaptation of the popular first-person shooter games can be viewed on the streaming service Paramount .

About Redefine: The VFX house Redefine is based in Canada; the company has three locations: in Montreal, London and Mumbai. Redefine’s portfolio includes the Star Wars series Obi-Wan Kenobi (with Ewan McGregor), the actioner Ambulance by director Michael Bay, and the slasher remake Scream by directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. The VFX experts are currently working on the sequel Scream VI and the Disney streaming series American Born Chinese. To the website of Redefine.

Click further: In the past, Digital Production has repeatedly reported on the spacey visual effects of Halo; we present them below:

• 2.08.2022: The Master Chief in Beast Mode: MPC not only plays Halo, but also means series streaming. Does John-117 pull the aliens’ teeth?
• 18.10.2022: VFX Supervisor Patrick David and VFX Producer Nancy Heller chat about Alien Concept Design.
• 24.11.2022: Rodeo FX blows up the Madrigal Tower! A colossal series entry for the Master Chief from the Halo series.

ReDefine | Halo VFX Breakdown

The post Halo | VFX Breakdown first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: VFX service provider MPC has released a new VFX breakdown – this time for the comedy horror streaming series Wednesday. The breakdown is just under three minutes long and is populated with powerful monsters, mermaid doves and gothic horror en masse.

In toto: At the centre of the Netflix series is the titular Wednesday Addams (played by Jenna Ortega); the baby of the most famous horror family in film and series history: the Adams family. The executive producer of the series is director Tim Burton (Sleepy Hollow, Sweeney Todd, Edward Scissorhands, among others), who also directed the first four of the eight episodes. In Die Zeit, journalist Lars Weisbrod aptly describes Tim Burton as “the most cheerful horror artist in the USA”, as “a man who knows that scary fun also involves wetting your pants a little in fear”. Susan Vahabzadeh writes about protagonist Wednesday Addams for the Süddeutsche Zeitung: “She loves black, is always in a bad mood and has a morbid streak, which makes her fit into the Burton universe, which is favoured by outsiders”; Vahabzadeh goes on to describe the series as a “mix of Harry Potter, superhero fantasy and crime thriller”.

Clicked further: In the past, Digital Production has repeatedly reported on the creative work of VFX house MPC – below are some examples of this.

• 28.04.2021: Environment Reel: Pikachu and Co. in the cities? Or: How to populate a pedestrian zone?
• 19.10.2021: (Sonic is) walking on Sunshine: Visual effects with radiance (and with Sega’s flagship spiky animal)!
• 30.08.2022: In a land before our time: Ruler lizards, lordly Vikings and marvellously around the world in 80 days – a showcase of current visual effects.
• 13.10.2022: Dragons, flying saucers, Elvis’ hip swing – and other things that whirl through the air. The VFX service provider’s latest showreel features Monster Hunter, Jordan Peele horror, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll – and more.

Sources: zeit.de ( review by Lars Weisbrod), sueddeutsche.de ( review by Susan Vahabzadeh), de.wikipedia.org ( entry on the Netflix series Wednesday)

MPC – Wednesday VFX Breakdown

The post Wednesday | VFX Breakdown first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: Polish VFX service provider Platige Image ( Platige for short) will also be involved in the third season of the Netflix series The Witcher. This is according to a recent report published on wirtualnemedia.pl. Platige Image was already involved in the first and second seasons of The Witcher.

In toto: The report also states that Platige will work on the episodes of season three in chronological order – starting with the first and concluding with the last episode of the new series season. Platige is expected to have successfully completed his visual effects for The Witcher Season 3 by the end of the first quarter of 2023. The scripts for the third season have already been finalised and filming is scheduled to start in spring 2023. The Witcher Season 3 is expected to premiere on the Netflix streaming portal in summer 2023.

Clicked on & clicked away: In DP 03 : 2020, we talked shop with Platige Image about the first season and one of the associated video games (“The Witcher by Platige”, page 78, an article we also made available to our readers free of charge on 29 September 2021 ). And just recently, in DP 05 : 2022, we had the opportunity to talk to Brad Blackbourn, Virtual Production Manager at The Third Floor, about augmented reality visualisation during the second season (“The Witcher: Adventures in AR” on page 71); see also the free sample copy of our e-paper issue. Finally, in our next issue, DP 01 : 2023, we had the chance to talk shop with the artists from Platige Image – this time about the second season of the series! Look forward to the insightful conversation in our upcoming new issue!

Source: News on wirtualnemedia.pl

The post Platige Image provides the visual effects for The Witcher season 3! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.