This is an example of how we integrate 3D objects into a scene with real people.

On our SuperKid video we wanted to have this actor (who is super strong) carrying a car around the street.

1: Setting Up The Shot

We had super girl carry a piece of foam cube over her head and walk around a bit.


2: Object Tracking

We then brought the footage into our 3D program and created a dummy object - a cube of the same dimensions of the real one (you can make out the green wireframe on top of the white cube). This is the most important part of the entire sequence - we had to match all the pitch, roll, and yaw that she put into that real cube. This was all keyframe animated.

3: Add The Jeep Model

With our 3D cube now moving around the scene the way we wanted it to, we simply linked a jeep* model to it. This linking made the jeep do exactly what the dummy object did.

4: Finishing Touches

Once we rendered the whole animation, we brought it into our compositing program where we added a subtle shadow on the street that the jeep would have cast if it were really there. Its all in the details!

You can see how this finished clip turned out in our Video Showcase.

*Jeep model created by David Goodman