‘Paddington in Peru’ VFX Studio Reveals Secrets of Bringing the Lovable Bear to Life, From Human Stand-Ins to 4K Fur (EXCLUSIVE)

by

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but share some fascinating insights about the magic behind the second week of “Paddington in Peru” gracing U.S. movie screens, a film that has already amassed an impressive global box office totaling $125 million! The visual effects maestros at Framestore have given us a peek into their process of creating the entirely computer-generated bear and many of his vibrant surroundings.

In an exclusive VFX breakdown video shared with EbMaster, the company revealed the intricate process behind bringing Paddington Bear and various other film animals to life, as well as recreating the lush Peruvian backdrops (such as the Home for Retired Bears, primarily filmed in a U.K. studio) and a turbulent riverboat scene through jungle rapids (also shot within the U.K.). The video features Ben Whishaw, the voice of Paddington, recording lines and conveying emotional expressions in the studio to aid VFX, while other team members like animation supervisor Pablo Grillo stood in for Paddington to facilitate later CG integration. Additionally, real-life footage from Machu Picchu was captured for authenticity.

In addition to the video, Framestore has shared some interesting details about the creation of “Paddington in Peru.” This movie was brought to life by StudioCanal and distributed in the United States by Sony Pictures.

  • In the film, Paddington’s fur was multiplied by 4 times as much as on the “Paddington 2” to make sure the design translated into 4k resolution.
  • Everything Paddington touches is CG, so the VFX team had to build digital versions of any prop he interacts with.
  • The llamas in the film were all CG. In order to create them, the team first had to visit a llama sanctuary to “cast” their hero llama (a “fine specimen” named Diesel).
  • Paddington’s duffle coat was recreated, to achieve greater movement, drape, and texture, using a new cloth solver called Carbon. For reference, they used stand-ins wearing the coat to see how it would move, react and interact.
  • For Paddington’s roar, they needed to create specific facial shapes and pay closer attention to the inside of his mouth. On set, leaf blowers generated “wind” to interact with the roar, to make it more realistic.
  • Machu Picchu was not closed off for filming, so the original background plates contain other visitors and tourists that had to be removed using digital matte painting.
  • The rig for the riverboat was suspended 10-12 feet from the ground, in order to be able to simulate the movement on the rough water.
  • Capturing the background plates for the riverboat scene required a 5 camera array, all shooting in 4k.

It took a staggering 88,884,749 hours, which is equivalent to over 10,000 years, to complete the rendering process for “Paddington in Peru” across Framestore’s studios in London, Montreal, and Mumbai.

See Framestore’s VFX breakdown video below

Read More

2025-02-24 17:19