“Digital Meets Handmade: Can VP enhance stop-motion?” by Gray, Bolotova, Cresdee and Ling
Conference:
Type(s):
Title:
- Digital Meets Handmade: Can VP enhance stop-motion?
Session/Category Title:
- Crossing Dimensions: Virtual Productions and Characters
Presenter(s)/Author(s):
Moderator(s):
Abstract:
Virtual Production (VP) at Model Scale is an R&D project in collaboration with MyWorld situated within the Aardman Animations production studio. Designed to explore the integration of VP technologies and real-time tools within stop-motion animation production. Unlike conventional VP applications, this project focuses on leveraging real-time tools, technologies and workflows in a non-real-time production environment, presenting unique challenges and opportunities for innovation. We defer to the full definition of VP going beyond In-Camera VFX. “Technology to join the digital world with the physical world in real-time. It enables filmmakers to interact with the digital process in the same ways they interact with live-action production.” Given the rich history and unique aesthetic at Aardman it was important to find digital processes that were sympathetic to traditional craft and enhanced existing workflows. Our research encompasses extensive user interviews, technical analysis, and hands-on experimentation with key creatives to identify where VP can provide the best value. The project explored the latest innovations in digital twins, the use of a physical digital hybrid space to enhance pre-production planning, a bridge between core stop motion technology and real-time engine, and workflows to minimise costly iterations of the production floor. The session will share insights from the project, including key findings and the practical and political challenges of adapting real-time tools within a historic stop motion studio. Attendees will gain actionable knowledge about integration of VP into stop motion workflows, the potential of hybrid production environments, and the future of digital and physical workflow convergence. We hope to inspire the SIGGRAPH community with new perspectives on VP workflow’s and demonstrate how they can unlock innovative creative possibilities within the context of traditional processes and art forms.
