The Pixar Progression: 'Up' In 8 Not-So-Easy Steps
You didn't think CG-animation was easy did you?
Today I just added 27 new images to the gallery for the upcoming Pixar/Disney animated feature Up, which is debuting at the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival in just a few hours (if not already) and along with those 27 images comes eight images showing the steps Pixar animators take in bringing a scene from Up to life as we find 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen and an 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell caught in the wild.
The image to the right is just a teaser of the final five steps featured below focusing on Carl as the image goes from final character animation poses to final lighting and ready for the big screen.
The images below all come with descriptions of each and details on what to look for. For the complete Up gallery of 37 total images, posters and concept art click here.
Storyboard by Enrico Casarosa.
This is the camera and staging phase which precedes character animation. The set is not fully built at this point and is finalized once layout is finished.
Final set modeling and dressing. Additional textural detail will be added later with shading. Organic sets such as this one tend to be more challenging than man-made sets (e.g. buildings) because the shapes are more complex and difficult to design in a pleasing way that also looks natural. Note that most of the leaves of the plants face camera. This was a design choice to keep the vegetation simple and graphic.
Final character animation poses. The characters bodies, faces, and props (e.g. the cane and ropes) are animated by keyframe. The objects on Russell's backpack are animated automatically using a dynamics system. The movement of those objects can be further refined by keyframe. The animation of the clothes is added by the Simulation Department.
This shows the final shading (material textures) for the set. All of the surfaces have texture, color, patterns, and material properties that will respond appropriately when later lit by the Lighting Department. For example, the broad leaf plants have shiny leaves that will also be translucent when backlit. The textures in Up are stylized to have larger patterns that sometimes resemble painted brush strokes. They are not made to literally look "real" but do have the complexity of objects found in nature and that makes Carl and Russell's world believable.
The Effects department animates natural phenomena such as the water running in the river and the drips from Carl's shoe after he plunges into the stream.
Final animation of the characters' clothes. The cloth is animated by dynamic simulation. The clothing simulation on Up is some of the most complicated ever done at Pixar. Carl's clothes are difficult because he has loose, baggy clothes and a hose wrapped around him. Russell's clothes are difficult because he has many layers (e.g. backpack over a scarf over a sash over a shirt over shorts) and moving parts.
Final lighting. The Lighting Department is responsible for integrating all of the elements (characters, set pieces, special effects, cloth animation, etc.) to create the final imagery. The lighting is achieved by placing virtual light sources in the scene which illuminate on the characters, set and special effects. Many dozens of lights are often required as well as lighting effects such as the shafts of sunlight seen in this shot.
You can see larger versions of each image, in sequence, in our gallery right here along with several more stills from the film, concept art and poster images.
Up hits theaters on May 29. The trailer is directly below for any of you that may not have seen it yet.
what trailer below?
The team at Pixar never fails to impress.
Ever stage of the production PLUSSES what came before it, even in this graphical example.
It's also amazing how much lighting really finishes and makes the scene. Up until stage 8, it seems just a bit ordinary. Add the lighting, and it's like adding magic-juice. Looks fabulous.
Funny thing is that it's likely just as difficult to get the characters and story just as finely tuned.
Thanks Team Pixar!