Dino Autopsy
Client: National Geographic TV and
| National Geographic Article| View Clip
CGI dinosaurs for film about a new excavation to unearth one of the most complete dino mummies ever discovered
422 were tasked by National Geographic Television and Films in Washington DC to create the living version of Dakota - a 3600kg mummified hadrosaur, and his contemporaries - including the iconic predator T-Rex. Perhaps uniquely 422's animators were briefed and directed by the scientist who was still supervising the excavation as the film was going to air, Dr. Phil Manning of the University of Manchester in the UK. Dr. Manning's discovery of intact skin and tendons allowed the size and power of the creature's muscles to be callibrated which gave 422's animators the information they needed o recreate the animal and it's movement with unusual accuracy.
422's team used Maya CGI animation tools, and rendered using Mental Ray. Hand held camera backplates were specially shot by Art Director VFX supervisor Andrew Hunter with tracking in mind. The resulting composite shots are highly dynamic, as well as scientifically accurate.
author:
ADC
2008-02-06
