Time Bandits: Bringing History to Life with Invisible VFX
SEPTEMBER 20 2024
The new comedy series, Time Bandits, breathes fresh life into Terry Gilliam’s iconic 1981 film. This re-imagining follows a ragtag group of loveable thieves on their chaotic journey through time and space. From witnessing the creation of Stonehenge, outrunning dinosaurs, stirring up medieval mayhem, and encountering ancient civilisations, the Time Bandits explore worlds brimming with adventure and danger.
A New Face for Fianna
A mid-production character redesign called for VFX help in post. Production VFX Supervisor Tobias Wolters led the design of an elegant face replacement requiring minimal roto and paint work – despite no scans, tracking markers or clean plates being available.
In collaboration with lead Fianna vendor Rodeo FX, Cause and FX rigged and texture-matched a shared face model for match move, character animation, lighting and comp of the digital face-replacement for Fianna. The challenge was the translation of Rachel House’s original performance to the new digital face design.
With Fianna’s unique lizard-skin texture and lack of traditional expression drivers like eyes, the animation team focused on nuanced movement such as subtle brow squeezes and lip curls to maintain her brooding appearance and bring life to her new face.
Fianna’s Rampage: A Visual Spectacle
When enraged, Fianna unleashes streams of molten plasma from her eyes. Inspired by Production look developments, the FX and comp teams layered up to 18 render passes to capture the torrent of magma. They crafted a variety of FX elements – crackling energy particles, heat haze, glows and more to give the plasma a visceral quality.
Fianna’s rampage included tearing through market stalls, decimating a mascot and slicing a swing set. High quality onset data, including HDRIs, colour charts, and LiDAR scans enabled seamless integration of digital and practical effects. The team produced FX ranging from subtle enhancements to the full-blown plasma beams, enhancing the show’s dynamic and immersive feel.
Revisiting the Past: Creating 13th Century Japan
Our Environments team transformed a serene New Zealand valley into a vibrant 1200 BC Japanese village. Guided by rapid concept stills from our VFX Art Director, the team meticulously crafted an ancient landscape featuring a rustic bridge, winding paths, and time-worn structures nestled against lush hillsides.
Bringing the scene to life in Maya, each element was aged to perfection using Photoshop, adding weathered textures and natural wear for authenticity. The 2D team then seamlessly combined the digital matte painting with live-action footage in NUKE, layering foliage and adding atmospheric effects like rippling water and billowing flags to enhance realism.
To restore the foreground, our team meticulously reconstructed plates, restoring delicate grass textures to create an immersive establishing shot that transports viewers back to feudal Japan. The result is a vivid, living snapshot of history that anchors the episode’s time-traveling narrative.
Collaborating with VFX Visionaries
Working on Time Bandits allowed Cause and FX to collaborate closely with VFX Supervisor Tobias Wolters and VFX Producers Max Serges and Will Reece. The project showcases the result of the combined creativity, expertise and passion engaged to bring vibrant historical settings and chaotic adventures to the screen for a new generation.
For a deeper dive into the VFX of Time Bandits, check out these external links:
