Movie Scenes Without the CGI

Sure the looming Earth in the background of Gravity was CGI, and of course the tiger in Life of Pi, but there is so much these days that exists purely through the magic of CGI. 

Virtual Motion Sculptures of Street Fighter 2 Movements

Thanks for watching my animation! I did it in order to teach myself Cinema 4D and Vray in my spare time, the renders aren't perfect but the best I could get out of my machine. While I setup up most of the geometry using tracers, Xpresso and Thinking Particles, I had some help along the way from the following great resources... I edited the motion captures from this archive >>> https://sites.google.com/a/cgspeed.com/cgspeed/motion-capture and used Microsoft Kinect for some parts aswell I tweaked the character models from >>> http://thefree3dmodels.com/ Sound effects we're mostly sourced from >>> www.freesound.org And the music is obviously from Capcom's Street Fighter 2, play it here >>> https://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/street-fighter-ii-collection/id459660048?mt=8 If you like this, then checkout the original & far superior Quayola and Memo 'Forms' >>> https://vimeo.com/37967381 Peace! Gif> http://tinyurl.com/afmwoss

From the video page: 

"I did it in order to teach myself Cinema 4D and Vray in my spare time, the renders aren't perfect but the best I could get out of my machine. While I setup up most of the geometry using tracers, Xpresso and Thinking Particles, I had some help along the way from the following great resources..."

via Abuzeedo

The Sugar Cube Mission

The Sugar Cube Mission is a personal project I did during the Commercial Production Techniques course at the Gnomon School of VFX. The basic idea is a miniature platoon that does household... operations. Special thanks to Cenk Cevdet Kilar for advising me to learn Houdini, Adad Fernando Morales (you know), Rou for the feedback and Joel for the kitchen and the Tecates. Credits: all aspects created by Georgios Papaioannou except main helicopter geometry by Evermotion Models. Software: Maya 2013, VRay 2.3, Houdini 12.1 & Nuke v7.04 Sound Design: decoystudios.tv & Georgios Papaioannou Music Track: Richard Wagner - The Rise of the Valkyries (1870) Georgios Papaioannou director/vfx generalist gpapaioa@frameworks.gr +30.6946.791.581 skype: giwrgos.papaioannou http://www.frameworks.gr

Georgios Papaioannou took a cup of coffee and made it an occasion for a miniature cinematic adventure.

via DoobyBrain

Shooting Toys in the Real World

1:1 Toys is a photo series Ottawa-based photographer Daniel Picard.

"The road in front was going to be closed down in two days, for almost a year. So, with no time for a human model, I tried shooting it with a robot I had just bought, the first of my collection. I liked the result so much, that it was the beginning of not only my toy series but my interest in building a fun toy collection."

 "[Shooting the toys in the real world] takes care of lighting and white balance and all that instead of shooting green screen in my studio and trying to match things hours, days, or even weeks later.

"The rest is all computer magic not unlike what Hollywood does with CG in films like District 9 and Lord of the Rings with Gollum. I just use already built, amazingly detailed toys instead of amazingly detailed 3D models."

via My Modern Met

4 - A CGI Artist's Impressively Imaginative Reel

www.animalvfx.com

CGI, like most other techniques, can be used to either great effect or as a poor substitute for vision and imagination. ​

 VFX artist Samm Hodges of Animal VFX shows how amazing it can be in his 2012 reel.

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via Chrome Yellow

5 - TRON-Inspired CHEMICAL BROTHERS' VELODROME INTRO

The Tron-inspired CGI video for the Chemical Brother‘s Velodrome, created by Crystal CG, is played in London's Olympic Velodrome before each session.

Crystal has created a three minute animated sequence for the song’s promotional video to match its heart-pounding rhythms. Played in the Velodrome before every session the video shows the Velodrome as never before, literally pulsating with excitement. “We’ve created sweeping contours and sleek surfaces as the backdrop for an intense, futuristic cycling ‘duel’ as two animated riders power round the track,” said Darren Groucutt, creative director at Crystal. “It truly brings the Velodrome to life.” James O’Brien, LOCOG Head of Sports Presentation, said: ‘Inspiring people to engage with sport has always been central to our vision and we want to ensure the way we present sport adds to the experience of the spectators in the venues and builds the atmosphere. This will be a special summer and we are grateful to everyone who has given their time and expertise over the past years.’

via The Creators Project