VFX by Frame brings you into a story of animated puppets, flying bikes and Claudio Santamaria transforming into a Golem, crafted by Buddy Buddy
Elf Me
Frame by Frame’s work on the VFX for this film was divided into three main tasks, each presenting unique technical and creative challenges:
The Flying Bikes Sequence
One of the film’s most iconic and visually stunning scenes. Shot against a large bluescreen, the bikes were mounted on programmable mechanical arms to simulate flight. The background was created using a hybrid technique of CG and real footage, blending night sky landscapes filmed on location with digital elements added in post-production to enhance visual depth and immersion. The CG environment was crafted in Houdini, featuring a sky filled with clouds, particle effects and moonlight, delivering a rich and captivating atmosphere.
Compositing
CG integration
Creature
Animation
Fx
Clean up
Matte painting
Fur
Set extension
The Character Buddy Buddy
For the stuffed toy that comes to life on screen, frame by frame created a CG replica perfectly faithful to the original design. Every movement of the character reflects meticulous attention to detail, bringing it to life with realism and charm while preserving the essence of the toy.
Buddy Buddy
The Golem Creature
The most challenging aspect of the project: transforming actor Claudio Santamaria into a towering Golem composed of 250 animated Buddy Buddy toys. Each toy was animated using advanced physics simulations to respond realistically and fluidly to the actor's movements.
Rigging and animation ensured both autonomy and synchronization among the toys, with special attention to fur dynamics and physical interactions, creating an impressive final effect. The integration of the toys with the actor was meticulously crafted to convey a sense of "weight" and solidity to the character while maintaining a light and natural appearance.
Clean up ed Enhancements
The work was completed with numerous clean-up tasks and visual enhancements, including optimizing the appearance of snow across various locations.
With innovative solutions and a technically flawless approach, frame by frame helped transform the film into an unforgettable visual experience.
Elf Me – VFX breakdown
