On the second day of the 2024 NIFFF Extended program, the focus pivoted from the digital VFX—showcased with "The Last of Us" and "3 Body Problem"—to the equally intricate worlds of 3D animation, with the movie Nimona, made by DNEG.
The journey of bringing "Nimona" to the screen was anything but straightforward. Initially started by Blue Sky Studios, the project faced uncertainty when the studio closed in 2021. However, the passion and dedication of key individuals led to its revival at DNEG, where at its peak, 100 animators worked together to bring the graphic novel adaptation to life.
Toby Seale, Lead Animator at DNEG, shared insights into their animation process, which started with… graphs. Yes. Given the project's temporary halt, the directors had the chance to deeply explore the character arcs and dynamics. They created graphs tracking their emotional journey throughout the movie, both individually and collectively. This tool proved to be invaluable for directors and animators alike, allowing them to infuse this emotional subtext into the animation.
Another important resource for the animators was the style guide created by Ted Ty, the Animation Director for "Nimona". They also worked with the concept of "golden poses". What are those, you may ask? Well, these are still frames where the character's pose conveys the essential elements of a shot, guiding the viewer's eye to the most important aspects. This technique, borrowed from traditional 2D animation, ensures clarity and intention in each frame. It also enabled quick feedback cycles with directors, helping animators avoid overworking shots that might later be changed.
Like VFX, references are crucial in animation, though more for acting than for textures. This involves the team filming themselves acting out scenes, often in a cartoony style, to better understand body and facial movements. Even subtle actions, such as holding a hand, are filmed to capture the intricacies of key real-life movements.
For the animation of "Nimona," the team aimed for a theatrical, exaggerated style, often utilizing the entire frame and set. However, in moments of vulnerability, the animation shifted to a subtler, more natural approach. A striking example is a scene where Nimona, feeling exposed and honest, is depicted from the back in a very still position, to emphasize her emotional state. But she does more than that...
"Nimona’s transformations were one of the biggest challenges for the animation team", confessed Seale.
And we are not surprised. Turns out, they were tasked with creating her transformations entirely in 3D, using VFX only for enhancements. This technical challenge also had to align with Nimona's emotional arc. For instance, when she is playful, her shape-shifting is quick, fun and seamless. They achieved this by nesting the rigs of different animals inside one another, similar to Russian dolls.
However, contrary to what many might believe, it’s not the larger, more dynamic movements that are most challenging. Minimal movements posed a greater challenge, as conveying emotion with slight gestures requires immense skill.
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