Digital Domain developed, created and animated new characters including ‘Laserbeak,’ ‘Brains’ and an army of Decepticon soldiers called ‘protoforms,’ as well as the returning character, ‘Wheels.’ Visual Effects Supervisor Matthew Butler oversaw the global digital production of 350 shots created in Digital Domain’s Venice and Vancouver studios and a facility in Mumbai, India. The work included notable set pieces, including a sequence where protoforms rise out of the Moon’s surface, mobilizing for an assault on Earth and a scene featuring skydiving soldiers bailing out of helicopters as they fly through the city skyline with Decepticon ships in pursuit.
Digital Domain’s work required seamless integration of animated characters, digital environments and effects animation combined with photographic plates shot on location around the world. Our Stereo Group handled 2D-to-3D conversion on complex shots that included CG stereo 3D element and 2D backplates. Digital Domain also played a key role in creating high-quality stereo 3D by treating it as an integrated digital production process – all under the discerning eye of director Michael Bay.