From Animated to Live-Action: The Visual Effects Magic of Once Upon A Time

Summary

In this article, we interview the visual effects team at Zoic Studios responsible for bringing to life the Disney characters in the hit live-action TV show Once Upon a Time. We learn about the challenges of translating animated characters to life-action, the impressive green screen technology used by Zoic Studios, the software and tools they rely on, and the process of creating fully CG characters for the show.

Introduction
How has Zoic Studios managed to achieve such an incredible turnaround time for Once Upon a Time?
What are the biggest challenges in bringing animated characters to life in a live-action show, and how do you overcome them?
Can you tell us more about the green screen technology and other specialist software that Zoic Studios uses?
Could you walk us through the process of creating a fully CG character for the show?
What has been the most demanding aspect of this season so far?
Are there any upcoming characters or scenes that fans should be excited about?
Conclusion

Introduction

Once Upon a Time is a hit live-action TV show that has gained a massive following over the years, thanks in part to the impressive visual effects work of Zoic Studios. In this article, we have the privilege of interviewing Zoic Studios’ visual effects team to learn more about the challenges they face in translating animated characters to life-action, the technology they use to achieve such a quick turnaround time, and the process of creating fully CG characters for the show.

How has Zoic Studios managed to achieve such an incredible turnaround time for Once Upon a Time?

Zoic Studios’ impressive turnaround time for Once Upon a Time is thanks to their use of Emmy award-winning Lightcraft technology, which allows them to pre-visualize entire scenes on a green screen stage. The team also relies on specialist tools such as iPad apps and integrated production software, allowing multiple shows to be worked on at once, with two crews overlapping on alternate weeks’ episodes.

What are the biggest challenges in bringing animated characters to life in a live-action show, and how do you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges is making sure the animated characters fit seamlessly into the live-action world. The team has to ensure that the lighting, shadows, and other elements are consistent with the rest of the scene. The team also has to match the movements of the live-action actors to the animated characters, and vice versa. This requires a lot of attention to detail to make sure that everything looks as natural as possible.

Can you tell us more about the green screen technology and other specialist software that Zoic Studios uses?

Zoic Studios’ green screen technology allows for entire worlds to be pre-visualized on a green screen stage, reducing the amount of location shooting required. The studio also relies on specialist software such as Krakatoa and Fracture for simulations, and automated tracking software for more accurate motion capture.

Could you walk us through the process of creating a fully CG character for the show?

Creating a fully CG character for the show is a complex process that starts with the conceptual design of the character. Once the design is approved, the character is modeled in 3D and textured. The team then works on rigging the character, which involves building a digital skeleton that can be manipulated to create different poses and expressions. Finally, the team adds the character’s movements and behaviors, ensuring that the movements match the live-action actors’ movements.

What has been the most demanding aspect of this season so far?

This season has been particularly challenging as the team had to bring characters from the hit film Frozen to the show’s hometown of Storybrooke. The team had to create fully CG characters such as Grand Babb and Marshmallow that had to be made to the current episode’s requirements, with the possibility that the characters might not be seen again.

Are there any upcoming characters or scenes that fans should be excited about?

Fans of the show should be excited about the upcoming appearance of characters from another Disney film, Maleficent, later this season.

Conclusion

The extraordinary talent and dedication of Zoic Studios’ visual effects team have brought to life some of the most beloved Disney characters in the hit show Once Upon a Time. While creating fully CG characters for a live-action show may seem daunting, Zoic Studios has managed to overcome these challenges thanks to their impressive technology and skills. We look forward to seeing what other incredible visual effects the team has in store for us in future episodes.