Just do it for Santa

The opening train sequence and titles are now done.. These are some highlights..

Note that this all needs a lot of colour grading. A friend of mine has offered to do this early next year which will be good timing.

The workspace: Had to dress the set during the day, and animate overnight (because I couldn't black out the whole room), then pack up the set before a kid's show opened in the morning. I used 4Kg of Rock salt and another table salt shaker this weekend..


Started out with something I learned from a Nick Park book.. when they filmed Wallace and Grommit (whichever movie it is with the train race), they moved the train a few centimeters every time they took a photo. This is exactly what I did for my fast train shots and it came out really well...

I also don't have proper animation lights (flicker free), so a slow shutter speed balances out the lights and keeps a consistent look.


Getting a bit trickier... a focus pull. This shot is a little darker because any key light killed the train reflection. Although I've just made it bright enough that the colour grading will match up this shot to the rest.


Hogspot's factory:


Welcome to the North Pole... Ice on the sign is spray on adhesive and table salt.

(I was going to animate the reindeer being destroyed, but felt it was better to just have a spooky still frame).