Oscar countdown: Weta Digital's artistry on video display
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Weta Digital is nominated for Visual Effects for its work on "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." That means co-founder Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and R. Christopher White could all be walking away from the Academy Awards ceremony this Sunday with golden statues. And the competition comes in the form of more folks at Weta Digital for work on "The Avengers," and "Prometheus." "The Life of Pi," and "Snow White and The Huntsman," are in the mix as well. Pundits say it comes down to Hobbit vs. Pi. Whatever the outcome, Weta Digital has had a pretty astounding year and with the warm glow of Smaug on the horizon, 2013 looks promising as well. You probably knew all that but what you may have missed are the terrific reels Weta Digital has available to help viewers (and maybe voters) understand what went into the creatures, environments and characters it created for the first of three Hobbit films based on J.R.R. Tolkien's 75-year-old children's book.
One of the six showcases on YouTube, "VFX of The Hobbit: Fantastical Creatures & Lands of Epic Beauty & Darkness," something of a highlight of all the videos, has been watched more than the rest but for anybody who loves cinema, loves the Hobbit film, technology or visual effects, the whole collection is outstanding. And so, we present them all below, embedded in one place for your viewing pleasure. VFX OF THE HOBBIT: FANTASTICAL CREATURES & LANDS OF EPIC BEAUTY & DARKNESS
The environments are stunningly real! The creatures - not so much
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Peter Jackson's justification for the digital orcs was that it let him get away from the restrictive triangle of mouth and two eyes that human's possess. But, if I remember correctly, Del Toro was planning on making these creatures puppets with digital enhancements? Surely that would've allowed the same freedom of form while giving much more of a physical presence?
Don't get me wrong, the orcs are beautifully designed, and they look great on their own. But when they're in an army they just become a mass of pixels as opposed to an intimidating force
(This post was edited by QuackingTroll on Feb 19 2013, 11:23am)
I have no confidence they will win any after the BAFTA's. Les Mis one the hair and makeup I think. It's fine. I sort of get it. This is a 3 part movie. There will be plenty of time with TABA for a final decision on whether TH warrants Oscars (including any acting noms). Films like Les Mis this is their first and only shot. So I get giving the awards elsewhere.
The Hobbit's Gollum is IMO the most lifelike creature ever created.
I wasn't a fan of Azog and the goblin king in the first place, though 48fps and multiple viewings helped me appreciate the work done to these characters, they look great!
Also,loved every single bit of Rivendell.
Still not sure about Goblintown, it reminded me of Isengard's caverns... All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost, The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
Are Yazneg and Azog different orcs then? I thought the change wasn't one of artistic choice but some confusing muddle where they changed Azog's story? I'm behind on all this stuff
I think most people are viewing it as a comedy or kid's movie
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And comedies and kid's movies are always looked down on by awards ceremonies. I personally think it deserves the award for Production Design (which I only recently found out means art direction?). This is the one area I think The Hobbit was truly outstanding in.
A friend told me that they couldn't consider The Hobbit for sound because judge viewings didn't have Dolby Atmos. Not sure how accurate that claim is?
Oh well, maybe next year!
(This post was edited by QuackingTroll on Feb 19 2013, 5:37pm)
Are Yazneg and Azog different orcs then? I thought the change wasn't one of artistic choice but some confusing muddle where they changed Azog's story? I'm behind on all this stuff
I'm not sure myself! I assumed they were still different characters, since Yazneg had his own figurine etc.
Are Yazneg and Azog different orcs then? I thought the change wasn't one of artistic choice but some confusing muddle where they changed Azog's story? I'm behind on all this stuff
Rawl's character was announced as Azog first, but then renamed Yazneg after the CGI Azog was paste over most of the scenes with Yazneg in.
Co-incidentally, one of my son's was browsing through the AUJ Movie Storybook in the shops today, and pointed out to me that the write-up of ending of the movie in that publication makes no reference to Azog at all, and in fact has a picture of Yazneg on the warg, described in the text simply as something like "the leader of the Orcs" "Choosing Trust over Doubt gets me burned once in a while, but I'd rather be singed than hardened." ¯ Victoria Monfort
So the change was one of artistic preference? Considering they pasted over Yazneg in both the warg scene and the Moria flashback?
Why does the book make no reference to Azog? Is it because they didn't have time to replace the design in the book and people would get confused if they saw Yazneg with the name Azog, so they just renamed him?
head hurts
(This post was edited by QuackingTroll on Feb 19 2013, 9:30pm)
Studying animation at the moment and these have been brilliant to watch, a couple have found their way into my design diaries.
Really annoys me when some people say CGI is as a cheap, easy replacement for practical effects. The amount of effort that some digital artists put in is unbelievable.
Best of luck to The Hobbit! Yes, my username is terrible.
