MAXON Computer, the developer of CINEMA 4D and BodyPaint 3D, today announced that CINEMA 4D played a key role in helping The Mill, a world-leading visual effects company, win a visual effects award from the esteemed Visual Effects Society (VES) for its work on Doctor Who, the world’s longest-running science fiction TV series.
This is the first time the series has won an award for visual effects since the opening episode was broadcast by the BBC in 1963. The Mill was recognized with the coveted award for ‘Outstanding Matte Paintings in a Broadcast Program or Commercial’ associated with the Doctor Who episode entitled ‘Silence in the Library’, during the 7th Annual Visual Effects Society (VES) Awards show in Los Angeles on February 23, 2009.
The centerpiece of The Mill’s award-winning effects, a library the size of an entire planet, was created in CINEMA 4D, MAXON’s 3D modeling, rendering and animation program. This element of the project proved particularly challenging due to its immense size and scale coupled with tight television production deadlines.
To achieve the realism required, The Mill turned to the new Global Illumination (GI) render engine in CINEMA 4D; which made short work of rendering scenes that could contain up to six million polygons; and resulted in the creation of superior, flicker-free animation in a fraction of the usual time. The studio also created full 3D environments for the atmospheric shots.
According to The Mill’s Lead Matte Painter, Simon Wicker, CINEMA 4D and its Advanced Render 3 module played a vital role in the creation of the episode. “The results were amazing,” said Wicker. I could render a 175 frame camera animation at widescreen PAL resolution overnight on a Mac Pro without a trace of GI flicker. Without that, these shots would never have been completed on time. CINEMA 4D has always been bulletproof for my work.”
The complete story and images outlining The Mill’s extensive work on the award-winning Doctor Who episode, ‘Silence in the Library’, including details on CINEMA 4D’s Advanced Render 3 module and GI render engine, is available here.
RELATED LINKS
Interview with The Mill’s Lead Matte Painter, Simon Wicker.
www.the-mill.com
www.maxon.net
