White water shader (Houdini)

There is a lot of discussion online about shading fluids therefore I used water simulation from "The legend of Tarzan" as inspiration.  I used Houdini`s flip particles velocity data to drive Mantra`s default shader color attribute. Also this approach is based on new Houdini 15 flip workflow. This is raw 12 fps render without foam (I`ll add foam, spray and bubbles as separated pass later)

HDM1.1 Tool - Tron "Derezzed" looking procedural RBD activation and shattering (Houdini)

A "Tron: Legacy" character getting "derezzed"  Credit: Disney, Source:cnet.com                                   HDM 1.1 Tool

Inspired with research for "Tron Legacy" done in Digital Domain and Dreamworks Animation I recreated same effect using my HDM Tool for procedural activation / propagation of hundred of thousands 3D pixel looking rigid bodies. Here are some of close up renders:

So, effect itself is broken into two mayor parts: "3D pixels" and their procedural activation. 3D pixels are generated from 
object volume, similar techniques as I used in one of my previous posts  Tron:Legacy.:..::..digitizer..:..::. ;-] in 3DS Max but this time same techniques is applied in Houdini. For procedural activation I used my HDM Tool also shown in previous 

HDM1.1 Tool - Houdini Demolition master (Procedural fracturing and activation)

HDM1.1 tool is quick destruction system I`m currently developing which gives you control over fragmentation (shattering) and over RBD activation. In other words, it`s possible to direct and control destruction using custom geometry shapes and standard forces. Also it`s possible to emit particles, additional debris and smoke as well. Support for those secondary elements will be added in upcoming releases. System also allows you to split your geometry into two peaces in case you don't need small fragments to cover whole object. Splitting geometry like that makes RBD calculation faster. As mentioned already it`s possible to use any kind of shape as fracturing guide and any kind of geometry to guide

Snow White and the Huntsman - Dark Fairies Scene

Credits: "Universal Pictures"

Dark Fairies scene was done by Double Negative using thousands of rigid bodies and instancing in Houdini. I`m personally using Houdini and Max equally, depending on deadline but in this case I was short with time so I decided to go with Max. Same techniques works well in Houdini as well, but, by my personal opinion, it`s just faster and easier to control all events, rules and rbd grouping in max with TP4. So, I had few groups of rigid bodies controlled by some events and by some rules. First event was: `if impact force is strong enough shards will break a part and will move into new group called fractured

CGI Water pipeline

RnD on CGI water pipeline, comparing Naiad, Realflow and Houdini`s new Flip solver. Pretty decent

results for 5 million particles. bgeo cache size is around 45GB. Flip solver stores, beside others, velocity
attribute for isolating white water and spray particles.

The Day the Earth Stood Still - Effects reconstruction

"Eating" effect used in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" movie showing swarm of  little robots  “Aphids” eating whatever they touch produced in Weta Digital (source: pierre-grage.com). Originally Maya with loads of coding was used to achieve this kind of effect. In my case I used Houdini and

The Sorcerer's Apprentice - Tesla coils

(credits: Walt Disney pictures)

I developed Houdini tool which creates set of electrical arcs between geometry. Tool (Digital asset) is also able to create same effect between particles as well! (see end of video). Tool has 2 main

Master Classes - Maya Effects Animation

On your request, first set of classes covering Effects Animation in Maya. Course also introduces procedural effects approach trough Houdini and 3DS Max, commonly used in films for effects work.

Detailed lessons and timing plans are out. Please check Master Classes / Events page . In short, course will cover Maya effects Animation including: Particles types and emitters, Forces, Fluids (Dynamic containers - smoke

Cloverfield VFX

Credits: Paramount Pictures

Cloverfield, New York, Statue of Liberty scene, one of my favorite VFX scene. I tried to reconstruct scene when big Statue of Liberty head hits the street.

Car Transformer

Credits: BDA Singapore

I know, I know, it`s transformer effect again :) Reason why I`m commenting is that I saw millions of different Transformer looking effects all over web.. but that was client wish and client is always right :)

Tornado - Maya fluids

Maya fluids, tornado test using 6 emitters. Top part is purposely colored red which indicates sky level (another fluid container) developed with my vfx student Boon Siong.

Sorcerer's apprentice Protective Force field

Credit: Walt Disney Pictures

Inspired by scene from Sorcerer's apprentice when protective force field protects heros from deadly fire I designed fully procedural shield system, this time with various controls...

Procedural / Directable Shattering

Thinking Particle system controls direction and velocity of explosion. Null is used to point/direct event...

Ground Blast

One of older projects I did with my students Henry Heng and Francis Leong back in 2009. Originally everything was done in maya. This time I redesigned ground cracking elements using TP for max.

Tron:Legacy.:..::..digitizer..:..::. ;-]

A "Tron: Legacy" character getting "derezzed" while competing in the games--a gladiator-style arena game with fights to the death.

(Credit: Disney). Source:cnet.com

Inspired by "Tron: Legacy" and Patrick Jean's "Pixels" I developed system to convert any shape into a

Making Of Hope

Here are some renders that I liked and that I wanted to achieve:

Credits: Pixar "Wall-e" / Disney

Credits: Pixar "Toy Story 3" / Disney

All those renders required insane amount of geometry. My approach was to combine Rigid Body sims and particle instancing. After resolving technical part I had another issue - image composition and amount of details. Details were overpowering character, in my case that was a tree

This was first render. Red box was just a place holder and it will be replaced with a tree

Effects Animation - Hope

Inspired by 2012, Inception, Wall-e and Toy Story 3, movies with a massive poly count scenes I tried to create something similar. At the same time piece should have a meaning or message. Basically, scene shows a moment of massive