CovidBall
Giants at Play was approached with a one-of-a-kind project for AstraZeneca: transform a real 1960s pinball machine into a working hospital. Doctors treat patients amid the chaos of a steel ball representing the unpredictable Covid virus.
The Approach
As a 3D artist, I sculpted and textured the tiny two-inch-tall characters, bringing them to life within the miniature world. I also created custom switches using recoloured textures and blend shapes to produce variations of the same characters, increasing the diversity of figures. CGI characters were animated using our bespoke motion control rig—controlled via iPhone—to capture performance at such a small scale.
The Process
To maintain the retro textures, we shot the pinball environment in live action and composited our CGI characters into the scenes. Lighting was carefully matched, and details like scratched glass were added to create a world that feels both vintage and completely unique. You can also watch the behind-the-scenes film to discover the secrets of how this project was made!
The Outcome
If you enjoy this style and technique of animation and have a project in mind, please get in touch!