INKWORKS USED TO BRING THE CEL LOOK TO 3D

MANCHESTER based422 Limited used Cambridge Animation Systems Inkworks software to achieve a traditional cel look in 3D for two recent projects.
A 30-second commercial for the Accident Group, a compensation claims company, follows the perils of the accident prone Mr.T and the mishaps he leaves in his wake. The project was produced by Equinox Film & TV Productions and directed by Gary Cowan. While Equinox wanted a traditional-looking animated commercial, 422 worked exclusively with Maya 3D animation software. Inkworks allowed the studio to achieve the traditional cartoon look Equinox wanted without having to buy and learn a completely new software package.
Mr. T was first modelled in Maya and prepared for animation using the software’s set-driven keys and animation features. Once the pace of the animation was determined, Inkworks was used on the outlines and scenes were painted with the Maya renderer to achieve a cel look.
422 adapted the outline effect they achieved in the Accident Group commercial for the title sequence of Voom’s ‘I Love the 80s’ television series. Director Andy Frith filmed various people in nostalgic 80s clothing and environments with memorabilia of the time. These images were rotoscoped characters and objects were composited into 3D environments painted with Inkworks, which gave the entire set of titles a consistent look. (CD)