PROGRESSION IMAGE 3 OF 6: SETS Using Art reference for guidance, the basic environments needed for a shot are translated into the computer by the Sets department during what’s called the modeling process. The Sets team for “The Good Dinosaur” used data from the U.S. Geological Survey to inform much of their work and help to create 360º sets, something no other Pixar film has had use of before. Once the set for a scene is built, it then needs to be “dressed,” which is where the Shading team comes in. Technical artist use a combination of painting, programming and photo reference, to apply textures, colors, patterns and other material properties to the sets, giving them complexity and appeal. This is a wireframe image of one of the landscape environments, showing the underlying modeling. ©2015 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
PROGRESSION IMAGE 4 OF 6: LAYOUTOnce the storyline for a sequence is completed, the scene is created in the computer. This frame shows the phase known as Layout, in which a virtual camera is placed into a shot. The Layout team on “The Good Dinosaur” had the advantage of working with 360º sets in the film, allowing for more options to place the virtual camera. Once the camera has been placed, the characters and set are then “staged” or placed into positions that work visually within the chosen camera angle. The look of the set is simplified during this phase, but is then seen fully built in the next stage of production. Layout precedes character animation. ©2015 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
PROGRESSION IMAGE 5 OF 6: ANIMATIONAfter the Layout team has completed their work, the characters are animated and brought to life by the Animation department. Animators create the personality and "acting" of the characters. Any secondary motion such as hair, fur, or feathers is added by the Simulation department, and this simulation allows the hair or fur to move naturally with a character’s movement. ©2015 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.