Introducing Animation Department

Matthieu Poirey, Animation 3D Supervisor at El Ranchito, will share insights about the tools and software they use, the evolution of their techniques, and the challenges they face.

In the entertainment industry, the visual effects animation department is responsible for transforming ideas into motion. This creative team brings characters, creatures, and entire worlds to life through advanced digital animation techniques. From fantastical creatures to complex environments, their work is essential for immersing the viewer in visual experiences that challenge reality.

SOFTWARE AND TOOLS

What software and tools do you use for 3D animation creation, and why do you choose these options?

Autodesk Maya is the industry standard due to its powerful and easy-to-use tools for animating rig controls. The combination of the Graph Editor, Animation Layers, Constraints, and a selection of both professional and custom plug-ins has made Maya the most widely used software in visual effects (VFX) animation. In fact, it is the program taught in most schools.

PRODUCTION PIPELINE

Can you describe your 3D animation production pipeline from conceptualization to final delivery?

Animation involves bringing characters or creatures to life and moving objects realistically and coherently with the sequence and the overall film, positioning ourselves between rigging and lighting in the 3D process. The first step is receiving a brief from the VFX Supervisor to have a clear idea of the project and understand the context of our work. Since we work by shots, it's essential to import an approved camera and the rig of the main character in the scene (character or object). The process develops in stages, receiving feedback from both the supervisor and the client throughout. First, we do the animation 'blocking,' a phase with few details but key poses and timings that establish the basic concepts of the scene's rhythm. Once approved, we move to the spline pass, where we add more detail to reinforce the physicality and credibility of the actions. Finally, we do a polishing pass, where we clean everything up and prepare it for caching. This process exports a version without the rig, which, depending on the character or the project's needs, can be sent to CFX or directly to Lighting for rendering.

Character Animation

What methods and techniques do you use to animate characters and ensure realistic movements?

The hyper-realistic animation, which is generally worked on at El Ranchito, aims to be practically invisible, minimizing the perception of CGI as much as possible. This is achieved through various methods and techniques: KeyFrame animation, which is built from scratch by modeling each movement after studying detailed references; rotoscoping, which consists of copying a video clip to achieve the most accurate result possible for a specific action; and mocap animation (motion capture), which uses a database of captured movements, but then needs to be touched up and refined during the animation process.

Quality

What processes do you implement to ensure the quality of 3D animations?

In VFX, the quality of an animation is measured by its 'invisibility', meaning it must blend seamlessly into the footage without standing out or distracting, while also contributing to the storytelling. To achieve this, we follow two main processes: reference analysis based on reality and constant feedback from the team, especially from the supervisors. The references ensure that the animated actions follow a realistic logic, while the feedback keeps us focused and prevents us from getting lost in the details. It’s very easy to get immersed in a scene and lose the objectivity needed to assess the animation’s quality. An external perspective, whether from the animation supervisor or the VFX supervisor, helps us reconnect with the fundamental needs of the project and gain a global perspective aligned with the client’s vision.

Innovation and Learning

How do you stay updated with AI advancements, and how do you see the evolution of AI in 3D animation?

The best source of news about AI is still the web, although there’s currently a lot of noise surrounding the topic, indicating that we are still in a transition phase. Some AI-based tools are beginning to emerge, such as those for rotoscoping or new programs claiming to have integrated AI. However, the core of the art of animation remains the same: telling a story through the life given to a character or creature. The most important thing about AI, at least for now, is that it still requires humans, as we are the ones making the key decisions. It’s an incredible tool that allows for the rapid production of standardized content, but when it comes to giving a character consistency and personality through movement, and understanding the specific needs of a project, the artist remains essential. Hopefully, AI will free us from the simpler and more repetitive tasks or those that still require a lot of organization and resources.

Challenges and Solutions

What are the main challenges you face in 3D animation projects, and how do you tackle them?

The main challenge in animation is ensuring that the result is believable and fits seamlessly when viewed, maintaining the same level of quality throughout the production and ensuring that all the elements on screen belong to the same universe. This becomes especially complex when working with fantastical creatures in photorealistic worlds, where actors are filmed on a real set.
The foundation of animation work is to thoroughly understand what we are going to animate, grasping the internal and external mechanisms that affect our protagonists. For example, in the case of a creature, it’s essential to know its anatomy and its relationship with the environment. What type of creature is it? What is its size and weight? How is its anatomy structured? If it’s a fantastical creature, what real animal might inspire its basic movements?
Additionally, we must consider the external forces that influence the creature. The most obvious is gravity, but there may also be wind, water, or interaction with another character in a fight, for example. The combinations are endless. As animators, we must take all these factors into account to create a believable character or creature that serves the story and the director’s vision.
Being an animator is like being both a sprinter and a marathon runner at the same time. Since most of our work is done by hand and not through simulations, we need an enormous amount of daily energy to create the 24 frames per second required for hyper-realistic animation, while also having the patience and determination to maintain that effort consistently throughout the entire project.