Special Effects in Animation and Live-Action

My first two term paper scores were both above 80; I will not be writing a third term paper.

Outline for the Third Term Paper

Intro

• I will be discussing the visual effects of sand and sandstorms from the film Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) and from the game Journey (2012).

Mad Max

• Techniques

• All ground sand/dirt is from real life
• The large sandstorm is a mixture of matte paintings and simulation
• Lightning effects inside the storm
• Inside of sandstorm has tornadoes instead of being one big rolling dust cloud
• Effectiveness
• While exaggerated in both size and in number of tornadoes, it achieves the feeling of an apocalyptic natural event

Journey

• Techniques

• Ground sand comprised of three layers of heightmaps
• Sand is more soft dunes than dirt road
• Ripples a bit when player jumps
• Sandstorms have a foggy effect to them
• Particle effects for dust clouds
• Effectiveness
• The sand feels good to walk around it
• While not physically accurate, the sand rippling effects add to the magical atmosphere of the game

Conclusion

• Mad Max is a very actiony film and requires a dramatic and almost explosive sandstorm. Journey, on the other hand, is much more calm and explorative, so its sandstorms do not need to be as violent. While neither achieve perfect accuracy to real-world sandstorms, both are exaggerated in qualities that add to the emotional atmosphere of their respective genres.