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BBC POST PRODUCTION CREATES 'ROBOBUG' ON
THE WALL FOR NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S 'SECRET WEAPONS' DOCUMENTARY
BBC Post Production's 3D design and digital effects
team have created the computer graphics and effects sequences for a programme
entitled 'Secret Weapons' due to air at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday
16th March on National Geographic EXPLORER in the US on MSNBC, before
being distributed worldwide.
For the documentary, produced for National Geographic
by Big Wave Productions, BBC Post Production has created 'Robobug',
a computer-generated inch-long flying robotic insect, a futuristic fusion
of technology and nature. The creature will feature in a dramatic reconstruction
that shows how the use of Robobug technology could be deployed in the
event of a fictitious terrorist attack on a US city both for surveillance
and rescue scenarios.
'Secret Weapons' is set in the future and
utilises computer graphics effects, macro photography and natural history
footage, to show how military design seeks inspiration from nature to
create revolutionary intelligence gathering devices and surveillance applications.
Working in close collaboration with Big Wave Productions,
BBC Post Production has based the design of Robobug around various actions
that it performs within the script and examined the movements of real
insects to achieve a delicate balance between a mechanical design and
natural insect-like characteristics.
Nick Stringer, producer and director at Big Wave Productions
comments on the project:
"The aim of this programme was to produce an insight in to how cutting-edge
technology is being inspired by natural phenomena, both in terms of design
and application. We commissioned BBC Post Production to create a fictitious
futuristic computer generated creature, which could function within heavily
manipulated interior and exterior location footage."
Andy McNamara, computer graphics supervisor at BBC Post
Production adds:
"Robobug is a plausible looking robotic flying insect that is deliberately
designed to fuse manufacturing techniques with insect morphologies. It
has been a major feat to develop a creature that can not only mimic the
movements of a robotic fly, but also looks natural against the backdrop
of a highly digitally enhanced landscape of a US city".
"The programme illustrates how the military will
take the best from nature and apply it to devices or weapons – BBC
Post Production has already succeeded in concept: we've taken the
best from nature and harnessed it with the most up-to-date technology."
-ENDS-
Director: Nick Stringer, Big Wave Productions
CG Supervisor: Andy McNamara
Digital Effects Supervisor: Ian Simpson
Senior Animator: Mike Gilbert
Animators: Serena Cacciato, Peakash Patel
Compositor: Matt Holland
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