Emmy Awards 2023 Highlights: Scanline VFX's Enchanting Rotoscoping in Shadow and Bone
In the captivating world of Netflix's Shadow and Bone, the visual effects (VFX) team at Scanline VFX played a pivotal role in bringing the series' magical elements to life. One team member, Rachel Ulicny, was particularly proud of the ship shots, praising their complexity and the final output as beautiful.
The team's efforts were evident in the development and integration of the Fold, a dense cloud of magical fog, as well as in representing Alina's sun-summoning magical powers. For these tasks, they used Boris FX Silhouette, a versatile tool that aided in various complex VFX tasks, including face replacements, set extensions, stabilization and takeovers, and crowd duplication for large theater scenes.
One of the most involved sequences was on a Greenpeace-style ship set filmed in a water tank. Scanline augmented the footage with significant CGI elements, such as ocean dynamics, atmospheric weather, environmental effects, and additional vessels, to realistically simulate motion and turbulence that could not be captured in-camera.
The technology for face replacements benefited from recent advances in machine learning–based face-swap software, which improved the methodology used for these VFX shots after a production strike pause. In total, they completed around 800 VFX shots for the eight episodes of Season 2, with close to 100 being highly sophisticated face replacements.
The design, construction, and integration of several digital environment sets, including the Ravkan countryside and the First Army Fortress castle, were also part of Scanline VFX's work on Shadow and Bone. The roto work involved painting out sailing wires in hybrid shots, which was challenging due to the long frame ranges and changing perspectives.
Charan Mapatuna, the Head of Roto/Paint for North America at Scanline VFX for Shadow and Bone, led the roto team, primarily using Silhouette for complex ship rotos with long frame ranges. Adam Balentine, the VFX Supervisor for Scanline VFX's work on Shadow and Bone, found the challenge in keeping the fantastical, magical effects grounded in reality, particularly in the towering Fold, arcing elements of Alina's magic, and expansive digital environments.
Their hard work paid off, as Scanline VFX has been Emmy-nominated for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in Season 2 of Netflix's Shadow and Bone. The Fold, in Season 2, was a particular challenge due to its sheer scale and interaction with the surrounding geography. However, the team's efforts resulted in photoreal effects that immersed viewers in the world of Shadow and Bone.
Technology played a crucial role in enhancing the entertainment value of Netflix's Shadow and Bone, with the VFX team employing Boris FX Silhouette for complex tasks such as face replacements, set extensions, and crowd duplication, adding a touch of magic to sports-like Greenpeace-style ship sequences. Additionally, the integration of digital environment sets, such as the Ravkan countryside and the First Army Fortress castle, offered viewers an immersive experience in the realm of fantasy.
