As a partner in Vicon’s VFX pioneer program, Dimension had early access to their new markerless solution and we put it through its paces for a rapid visualisation test project.

Memories

Vicon Markerless film

Introducing Evergreen — a Dimension motion capture demo driving live MetaHumans for in-camera VFX via an LED volume. Watch the behind the scenes below.

Set on a forested riverbed, the demo features two physical actors performing live against an LED volume. At the same time, directable mid-ground MetaHuman characters are puppeteered in realtime on a neighbouring performance capture stage.

The MetaHuman characters are driven by data generated from motion capture actors next door, captured using Vicon cameras. This realtime animation is played out on the LED volume for the physical actors to see and interact with.

The demo highlights a new way of using directable mid-ground MetaHuman characters. Because they're puppeteered in realtime, it allows for more dynamic and authentic interactions, such as characters helping each other traverse rocks.

See the in-camera edit below to watch the positive impact of the LED volume on the actors with realistic lighting and interaction with the MetaHuman characters.

Evergreen

Motion Capture Driving MetaHumans for ICVFX

Dimension and DNEG 360 supported the Venom VFX team by providing precise motion capture data in Unreal Engine to visualise every twirl in Venom’s dance with Mrs. Chen – showcased in the breakdown below.

We created a performance capture stage at a 1:1 scale to the practical shoot’s set. We took a LiDAR scan in Unreal Engine and recreated key structures in our mocap stage – like the staircase and jukebox that Venom interacts with.

Our stage featured 44 Vicon V26 Valkyrie motion capture cameras, full body and hand tracking, and two Blackmagic reference cameras. We retargeted the data onto a 7-foot Venom VFX asset and streamed it directly into Unreal Engine

By visualising the scene in Unreal Engine, the VFX team could see how Venom and Mrs Chen interacted in the final composition – offering invaluable realtime feedback to VFX Supervisor John Moffatt and the VFX team.

Venom: The Last Dance

Embark on a comedic, high-stakes journey through time and space with Time Bandits, an Apple TV+ adaptation of the 1981 cult classic film directed by Terry Gilliam.

The show’s premise, with bandits time-hopping through eras and locations as diverse as 1920s New York and Ice Age, was a perfect fit for virtual production.

Based in Wellington, New Zealand, Dimension and DNEG 360’s team was responsible for content creation (for previsualisation and in-camera VFX) and on-set operation of the LED volume.

Our content creation team used a combination of scanning and Unreal Engine to create stunning scenes such as the Ice Age, a Mayan village, and a recreation of Stonehenge.

Virtual production proved to be a creatively empowering tool for Waititi, Morris, and Clement, providing the flexibility and adaptability essential to the project’s evolving script and story. Time Bandits is available to watch on Apple TV+ now.

Time Bandits

Dimension and DNEG 360 showcase ‘The Evolution of Virtual Production,’ a documentary short made in association with Luno and Panalight.

This virtual production feature demonstrates the endless possibilities awaiting filmmakers, efficiently shooting various genres and eras across five days.

From a Revenant-style, post eco-disaster drama, to a gladiatorial battle to the death in the Colosseum and an intimate Edwardian period piece, we set out to show how virtual production is empowering filmmakers to craft brilliant cinematic stories.

With each day, we demonstrated new ways virtual production empowers filmmakers and enables creative control. From period drama and wide-lens, to improved raytracing and realtime caustics – watch and get in touch to learn more. 

The Evolution of Virtual Production, at Cinecittà Studios

The Evolution of Virtual Production at Cinecittà Studios

Based on the global anime sensation, Sony Pictures’ Knights of the Zodiac brought the Saint Seiya saga to the big screen in live action. Dimension employed  visualisation and virtual production techniques to craft a central car chase.

We created a high concept test film in Unreal, visualising a car chase and tunnel scenes. We then delivered concept visualisation, VAD, techvis, on-set services and content management, building and shooting on a car stage within an LED volume. 

The virtual production techniques employed delivered epic car scenes, made highly realistic using wind, smoke, water, lighting and motion blur, ultimately delivering in-camera VFX that was featured in the final film. 

Knights of the Zodiac

Made with Missing Pieces and Critical Mass, ARIYA VR transports users into the all-electric Nissan model.

Created in super high fidelity for Meta Quest 2, the interactive experience brings you up close and personal with the SUV. Step inside to experience the design, feel the powerful performance, and explore the interior and exterior features.

The Nissan ARIYA VR experience takes realistic virtual reality marketing to new levels, and sets a precedent for showcasing innovation in the automotive industry.

Nissan ARIYA

Nissan Ariya

From the first visual concept to extensive storyworlds, our team brings the biggest ideas to life. Our Production Visualisation Demo explores Dimension's visualisation capabilities.

Visualisation helps directors, producers, DPs and production designers make informed decisions about camera angles, lighting, set design and aesthetics, in the first steps of the filmmaking process.

Look out for our Production Visualisation Demo, set to be released in early 2024.

Production Visualisation Demo

The Viking Planet is a new entertainment centre in Norway vividly recreating a lost 9th century world. This state-of-the-art centre brings to life the tough and violent world of the Vikings with incredible historical accuracy.

In collaboration with The Viking Planet and Ridley Scott Creative Group, we have created one of the world's most advanced VR dramas with volumetric capture at its core.

An immersive centrepiece at the visitor attraction, this VR experience called ‘The Ambush’ takes you back over a thousand years onboard a Viking ship. You're at the heart of an intense journey through the darkness with your viking comrades.

Our case studies

Memories

Evergreen

Venom: The Last Dance

Time Bandits

The Evolution of Virtual Production, at Cinecittà Studios

Knights of the Zodiac

Nissan ARIYA

Production Visualisation Demo

Viking Planet: The Ambush

Projects

View all

Virtual Humans

Virtual Production

Visualisation

Film & Episodic

Live Experiences

Innovation & Development

Music

Immersive

Fashion

Sport

Get in touch to collaborate