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VFX studio Framestore unveils several breakdowns showcasing their work on Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. The series in streaming on Apple TV+, and takes place in the same universe as Godzilla (2014), Kong: Skull Island (2017), and Godzilla vs. Kong (2021).
It follows various protagonists, some of them being part of Monarch, who stumble upon various giant creatures.
Here is a VFX breakdown. Framestore delivered 275 shots and worked across episodes 3, 4, 7, 9, and 10. The studio was tasked with the creation of two Titans and lots of FX shots.
This second video is focused on the Frost Vark. As the studio explains, “The Frost Vark is a 40-foot-tall Titan inspired by a mix of an aardvark, star-nosed mole, and pangolin, capable of absorbing heat to freeze its surroundings.”
Framestore also underscores that “the animation and rigging process, particularly for its 2000 scales and bioluminescent tentacles, posed significant challenges, requiring detailed LOD techniques and advanced simulations to realistically integrate scales, ice, and snow element.”
The following video is focused on the Brambleboar, a creature “resembling a warthog, features twenty-five botanical horns sprouting from its body and face.” Framestores adds that animating these horns posed a challenge: “our team had to ensure their natural movement didn’t distract, all while preserving the creature’s sense of heft. Additionally, our grooming team’s detailed simulation was crucial in replicating various moss types on the boar, further enriching its appearance.”
Both Framestore Vancouver and Montreal were involved in this project.
Credits:
VFX Supervisor: Arek Komorowski
Head of Creatures: Pierre-Loic Hamon
Creature Supervisor: Dave Gagnon
Animation Supervisor: Jye Skinn
