An iconic character in yellow bolts into theaters with Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (Warner Bros.), a fantasy/mystery feature based on the Pokémon franchise created by Satoshi Tajiri and the 2016 video game Detective Pikachu. From city to forest-scapes, THE THIRD FLOOR contributed previs, techvis, and postvis across each of the major sequences in the film, tapping artists in our Los Angeles and London teams. A film about fictional species living in the real world sparked the need to visualize shots as well as shooting techniques.
Founder and Visualization Supervisor Nick Markel noted, “We worked closely with visual effects vendors, where they had a number of animators working collectively with the previs team. This allowed us to bring more refined animation into the previs early on.” Previs work was a key contribution throughout production. It helped with creative storytelling, exploring action, comedy and narrative moments, including the epic final battle in the middle of the high-risers of London’s City district.
Techvis was also used profoundly when creating complicated shots. Touching on one key scene, London Visualization Supervisor Vincent Aupetit says, “We techvised every single shot of the sequence to help inform a very complex shoot that would combine on-location plates and huge special effects rigs. We then postvis’ed the entire sequence.” Markel adds, “The set for the scene was almost entirely digital because it was constantly moving, so it was important to plan for all of the needed shots.” With a monstrous cast of CG characters, both powerful and cute, Detective Pikachu is an electrifying first live-action take on a much-loved universe.
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