These mutated crustaceans, known locally as “Los Crafty Cangrejos”, are highly intelligent and have shed their legs in favor of wheels and a hydraulic suspension. To maintain their modifications, they need a continual supply of autoparts. They are constantly tinkering.

They live near bridges, where they forage for autoparts from the submerged wrecks of occasional unfortunate cars which have met an unexpected end.
In times of scarcity, they become more aggressive and are known to climb bridges and go looking for cars (fancy custom cars particularly attract their attention . . . ).
Software used in the project was Softimage 3D v. 3.8 for animation and mental ray v2.1 for rendering.
This animation employs the most recently developed features of mental ray 2.1, such as the full simulation of global illumination and of caustics to create a realistic lighting situation both above water and beneath.
It also makes extensive use of the mental ray shader interface with a collection of shaders written especially for this project, including: reaction-diffusion patterns, cellular basis textures, realistic carpaint /varnish, irridescence, scales, atmosphere, and a special “sparkle”shader for the crabs' shell to model paint or plastic containing metal shavings.

Charlotte Manning (US), born on 15 November 1968 in Cleveland/Ohio. BA in Neurobiology/Physiology, Northwestern University of Chicago, 1991. Dec 1994-Dec. 1999: Technical Director, mental images, Berlin. Since Jan. 2000: Techn. Director, Digital Domain., Venice/CA.