Tiny but deadly aliens and surreal parallel universes are but a small part of the visual mayhem cooked up by the leading visual effects house on the latest season of the DC series, now streaming on HBO Max.
Leading VFX house Rodeo FX has shared with AWN and VFXWorld an all-new breakdown reel of its work on Season 2, now streaming on HBO Max.The visual highlights includes their crafting of one of the show’s most absurdly crazy sequences, the Candyland encounter.
This ain’t your parents’ Candy Cane Lane, that’s for certain.All told, the studio handled 160 shots across 33 sequences, creating 33 digital assets and 8,870 frames of visual effects work.The Rodeo FX team took on an impressive variety of complex VFX sequences for James Gunn’s wildly irreverent DC universe that features one of television’s most unpredictable antiheroes.
The work ranged from large-scale environments and creature work to digital doubles and full-CG explosions, all incorporating the show’s eccentric tone and comic-book sensibility. Take look, then read more details on how the work was produced: One of the most visually ambitious and narratively over-the-top moments of Season 2 was the finale’s Candyland sequence, that, according to Rodeo FX, was “a delirious mix of absurdity and spectacle that could only come from the mind of James Gunn.This surreal world of floating cotton candy, detonations, and homicidal animated gnomes was brought to life through intricate performance animation, rich textures, and characterful movement.” To create the chaos, the studio’s animation and crowd departments collaborated closely, layering hero performances and background simulations to create a teeming, dynamic world.The studio shared, “The final result bursts with color and personality, filled with hidden Easter eggs, outrageous gags, and explosive comic detail, perfectly embodying the show’s blend of mayhem and meticulous craftsmanship.” Throughout the season, Rodeo FX delivered a wide range of complex action shots that showcased both artistic versatility and technical innovation.
The team created a fully CG alien featuring advanced character FX and detailed body simulation, orchestrated seamless multi-lens composites for stunts and explosions, and developed sophisticated digital doubles for costume adjustments, complete replacements, and tightly choreographed sequences such as the Judo Master fight.Other highlights include custom CG visors and props integrated flawlessly into live-action, extensive environment replacements that expanded the show’s scope, and dreamlike hallucination sequences bathed in a saturated 1970s palette.The team also conjured a nightmarish descent into a Bosch-inspired hellscape, elevated by the visionary work of the art department.
stars John Cena stars alongside Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Steve Agee and Robert Patrick.New cast members for Season 2 include Frank Grillo, David Denman, Sol Rodriguez, and Tim Meadows.Gunn wrote all eight episodes and directed three, including the first episode.
Gunn, Peter Safran, and Cena executive produce.Greg Mottola, Peter Sollett, and Alethea Jones also direct.Based on characters from DC, is produced by Gunn’s Troll Court Entertainment and The Safran Company in association with Warner Bros.
Television.Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
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