"Inside Out 2," "Godzilla x Kong," and more harness the power of Maxon’s visual effects, 3D animation, and rendering tools for a spectacular summer of cinema
Maxon, developers of professional software solutions for editors, filmmakers, motion designers, visual effects artists, and creators of all types, proudly celebrates the stunning visual effects achievements in this summer’s blockbuster films. The dedication and artistry of these VFX teams have brought fantastic worlds to life, with Maxon’s tools playing a pivotal role.
“Perhaps contrary to the sunshine and warm weather that summertime brings, it’s also known as a season in which the best films are released – such as the Star Wars and Indiana Jones blockbuster franchises. This summer was no different, with tons of excitement over movies like ‘Inside Out 2’ and ‘Godzilla x Kong,’ both of which put Maxon tools to use in helping to create their incredible visual effects, said CEO David McGavran. “Our mission is to empower creators, and seeing the extraordinary results achieved with our technology is immensely rewarding.”
Summer 2024 films including “Inside Out 2,” “Godzilla x Kong,” “Monkey Man,” “The Garfield Move,” “The Watchers,” and “Sasquatch Sunset,” each used Maxon tools, from Cinema 4D and Red Giant to ZBrush and Redshift, to craft visuals that captivated audiences all summer long.
Achieving Visual Continuity with ZBrush on “Inside Out 2”
Pixar’s use of Maxon’s ZBrush was crucial for developing new characters, emotions, and scenes in Inside Out 2, building on the visual storytelling of the original film. Michael Comet, Character Supervisor, highlighted ZBrush’s impact, noting, “ZBrush’s capabilities allowed us to stay true to the original film’s style while incorporating new, emotive characters.”
Pixar has used ZBrush for early modeling on recent films, noting its efficiency over clay sculpting. “Moving to the computer lets us iterate more and reduces cleanup time,” Comet said. For Inside Out 2, ZBrush was used following initial clay sculpting to refine characters like Anxiety and Ennui, allowing quicker transitions from 2D concepts to digital designs.
Inside Out 2 shines on screen thanks to the innovative use of technology and the exceptional talent of Pixar’s artists and technical teams.
Enhancing Immersive VFX with Redshift on “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire”
In “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” Baked Studios enhanced the film’s visual effects by using Maxon’s Redshift to create stunning and immersive visuals. Guided by VFX Supervisor George A. Loucas, the team crafted futuristic cityscapes and lush landscapes that seamlessly integrated with live-action footage. “Our focus was on designing digital backdrops that matched each scene’s needs, ensuring they blended perfectly with live-action plates,” Loucas explained.
When crafting visuals for “Godzilla x Kong,” the team was tasked with integrating composites into established color palettes and lens aesthetics. This required meticulous color matching, precise lighting adjustments, and close attention to anamorphic photography, especially concerning bokeh and chromatic aberration.
Redshift, Baked Studio’s primary 3D renderer for over a decade, provided the speed and efficiency necessary for managing complex scenes, allowing the studio to move away from heavy render farms. “Redshift’s capabilities in depth of field, motion blur, and volumetric rendering were crucial in crafting high-quality environments,” Loucas added.
Making the Unbelievable, Believable with Redshift in “The Watchers”
Cadence Effects showcased their subtle yet exceptional visual effects prowess in “The Watchers,” with visual effects led by Travis Pinsonnault and Rob Liscombe. Their work focused on ensuring the VFX were believable in an unbelievable world, using Maxon’s Redshift to render scenes and set extensions throughout the film.
Cadence Effects was tasked with creating visuals such as a CG ceiling, a 3D forest floor, a tilt-shift effect for a dreamlike car crash, and flawless mirror reflections. “Much of our VFX work is ‘invisible by design,’ seamlessly blending with the existing footage,” shared Pinsonnault. “Redshift enabled us to efficiently render complex scenes, like a high-density CG forest, by using render proxies to quickly manage extensive foliage and terrain.”
Redshift’s user-friendly interface and fast processing were pivotal, enabling Cadence Effects to deliver high-quality results promptly. “One of my favorite scenes features a large piece of glass shattering into millions of pieces. Redshift’s handling of refraction and speed in rendering made this task significantly more efficient than traditional CPU renderers,” highlighted Pinsonnault.
About Maxon
Maxon makes powerful, yet approachable software solutions for content creators working in 2D and 3D design, motion graphics, visual effects and visualization. Maxon’s innovative product portfolio helps artists supercharge their creative workflows. Our product lines include the award-winning Cinema 4D suite of 3D modeling, simulation and animation technology; the creativity-on-the-go Forger mobile sculpting app; the diverse Red Giant lineup of revolutionary editing, motion design and filmmaking tools; the leading-edge, blazingly fast Redshift renderer; and ZBrush, the industry-standard digital sculpting and painting solution.
Doe-Anderson Hires Marianne Newton as New VP, Director of Integrated Production
Full service ad agency Doe-Anderson has hired Marianne Newton as Vice President, Director of Integrated Production. Newton previously worked at DDB, mcgarrybowen and GSD&M and has freelanced at agencies Highdive, McCann, FCB and Dentsu, among others.
Doe-Anderson President and Chief Creative Officer Leyla Touma Dailey, who first met Newton when they were both based in Chicago, commented, “Marianne has been an incredible asset on many of our projects, including our work for Maker’s Mark and the Georgia Aquarium. Having her officially join us full-time feels like she’s coming home. Her energy and expertise make her an amazing fit for our thriving culture at Doe-Anderson.”
Newton has a rich background as an integrated producer, having led teams through strategic brand campaigns across all platforms both nationally and internationally. Her extensive production experience has taken her as far and wide - from Australia and New Zealand to South Africa and South America. She has helped create award-winning work with recognition from Cannes Lions, D&AD, One Show, Clio’s, Addy’s and Effie’s.
As to what attracted Newton to the opportunity, she added: “I'm thrilled to join Doe-Anderson – I was drawn to the momentum and energy of this independent agency, its people, the culture and the creative leadership of Leyla Touma Dailey."