CG PENGUIN STARS IN 'IGLU' SPOT
A live action actor sticks his head into the photoreal animated scene, noting that both an igloo and Iglu gel provide protective layers. In the background, a penguin struggles to stay upright as he battles strong arctic winds. When the actor notes how Iglu gel "sticks fast," the animated creature is blown into the CG igloo.
HRA director Jerry Hibbert shot the live action in a studio in Wimbledon. The actor was shot against a white screen so that the fur of his hood would not need keying in post. Some snow was also shot in-camera, but the majority was added in post.
The igloo and penguin were developed and animated using Maya 8.5. While modeling and animation were straightforward, a diffuse shader was used to help create the arctic environment. The lighting setup was based on actual physics and matches the exposure of the live action camera. Effects were created using Adobe After Effects and Autodesk Combustion.
To keep the product still, a magnetic rig was used and then removed in post, being replaced by the actor's gloved hand.