Animal Logic: Part 2
PART 2: TALKING TECH WITH Part two of our special series on Animal Logic explores the technology, pipeline and research and development side of the studio
Talking tech with the VFX studio
Left: Part of the servers in Animal Logic’s render farm
It was on The LEGO Movie that the studio started refining a large part of its animation and VFX pipeline, including its in-house renderer Glimpse
“WE COMMITTED TO CREATING EVERY SINGLE DIGITAL LEGO BRICK” Aidan Sarsfield, head of production technology
How did Peter Rabbit get his fur coat? Or his iconic blue denim jacket? And how were millions and millions of bricks realised and rendered for the LEGO movies?
Those key elements would not be possible without Animal Logic’s technology framework and a dedicated team behind it. Indeed, ever since its inception in 1991, the studio has been an innovator in building tools and maintaining a pipeline that has allowed creativity to thrive in its projects. This includes specific tools needed for CG creatures like feathers and fur and the development of Animal Logic’s own path tracer, Glimpse.
Welcome to the second piece in 3D World’s in-depth look at Animal Logic, which features just some of the team involved in developing and maintaining the vital animation and VFX technology, as well as looking ahead to what new areas are key for the studio.
TECHNOLOGY AT AN ANIMATION AND VFX HOUSE
Technology, pipeline and R&D are overseen between the studio’s Sydney, Vancouver and Los Angeles offices by chief technology officer Darin Grant, who happens to be the first CTO employed by Animal Logic. “That’s because,” he says, “as Animal Logic continued to expand year after year, we really wanted to invest more greatly in our technology framework and our tech, both from a coding and infrastructure perspective, to support this growth.”
Grant and his team ensure the right technology is there to support the artists, including working on new areas in computer graphics to support new projects via research and development. Daniel Heckenberg, R&D supervisor – Graphics, plays an important role in this area. “The graphics team includes the tools that we use for