Images and video removed at artist’s request
Avengers: Age of Ultron was loaded with spectacle, armies of flying robots and glorious superhero splendor, so it’s no wonder that the VFX creators had to work overtime bringing the comic book fantasy into reality. Now we have an inside look into the process, thanks to Method Studios.
Method Studios has released VFX breakdown images and a wondrous FX reel from their mighty impressive work on Avengers: Age of Ultron. Feast your eyes on this splendor.
Method’s artists and creators from across the globe (Vancouver, Los Angeles and London) all joined forces to deliver 214 shots in three months for Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. The team — which has 250 artists and is led by VFX Supervisor Chad Wiebe and VFX Producer Christopher Anderson in Vancouver, VFX Supervisor Olivier Dumont and VFX Producer Michelle Machado in Los Angeles, and VF Supervisor Simon Carr and VFX Producer Lorna Dumba in London — explains each breakdown, providing a seriously interesting eye into the making of Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Thor’s Hammer
For the film’s opening combat sequence, Method artists combined CG tanks with live action soldiers to create full-scale battle imagery. Method also produced the signature shockwave effect of Thor’s hammer, an effect from previous films that was reinvented for the battle sequence to better convey the sheer magnitude of the hammer’s power.
Avengers’ New Training Pad
Method was also responsible for fully designing and creating the interior of the grandiose new Avengers training facility, seen in the film’s final scenes. Method artists created the training facility completely digitally, extracting the Avengers characters and placing them into the new CG environment. The expansive facility includes, among other things, a state-of-the-art observation lab.
Scarlet Witch
For the Scarlet Witch (aka Wanda), Method played a key role in creating her CG mind control effect. The ethereal effect, originally developed by Trixter, was designed to emulate the look from the original comic book source material. To put the effect into action, Method completed a precise matchmove on actress Elizabeth Olsen, focusing on her hand, arm, and face, in order to accurately track and emit particles. The effect was driven by particle and fluid simulations to convey the energy being released when unleashing her mind control power.
Final Fight
Images and video removed at artist’s request
Iron Man’s Mark 45 Suit
Method also contributed to Iron Man’s new Mark 45 suit, helping to develop the suit’s functionality and flying capabilities by creating new thruster flaps. Lastly, Method animated the Sub-Ultrons, using keyframe animation to deliver their unique insect-like movement.
For even more information on the FX work on Avengers: Age of Ultron head over to Method Studios for additional creator details and images.
All footage and images from Avengers: Age of Ultron ©2015 Marvel Studios.