cf_animorph

cf_animorph is one of the tools I'm most proud of. Mostly because I spent so much time figuring out how to actually make it fully procedural.

I was adamant for it to work procedurally, as it was created for a fully CG 25 shot short film Wings.

The idea to create the tool was first sparked after I read an article on Animal Logic's approach to Lego Batman (Give it a read here: https://www.fxguide.com/featured/the-batman-movie-keeping-it-real/)

Deciphering the cryptic line of how the set up was "really just an exotic combination of Convolves, Blurs, Transforms and Vector warps." was the tricky part. Once I'd got to the bottom of that, flared pixels started flying out write nodes.

Below is the first test of the tool.

After I knew the set up worked. Art directing the flare was my next.

The ShareGrid YouTube channel has some really fantastic tests of a lot of vintage lenses, most importantly anamorphic lenses.

ShareGrid's reference

Initial WIP of layering each of the elements

I quickly downloaded some Arnold tests scenes to see how the tool reacts to CG renders

Once the set up was behaving how I wanted it to I started gizmofying it.

That meant turning this:

Into this:

With a bit of stylisation (To fit the look of the film), a great effect can be applied to each shot. With consistency for each shot, whilst also being as intense or subtle as the shots need.

With a bit of stylisation (To fit the look of the film), a great effect can be applied to each shot. With consistency for each shot, whilst also being as intense or subtle as the shots nee

If anyone wants to have a play around with the tool or has any questions, please do reach out to me.

You can download the demo script here: https://www.chrisfryer.co.uk/post/cf_tools-demo-nuke-script