In 2008 fire destroyed a number of attractions on the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot tour, including King Kong. The “big ape” was long considered a fundamental part of Universal Studios, so Weta Digital began the challenge of creating a new King Kong, which belonged to the world they created for Peter Jackson’s 2005 remake of the film.

King Kong 360 3D is an immersive and thrilling tour of Skull Island, which features a large-format stereoscopic 3D surround movie experience. The attraction is housed in its own purpose-built stage building. The movie is projected via 16 2k digital cinema projectors onto two 54-meter curved screens, designed to completely fill the audience’s field of view regardless of their location in the tram.

The story is compellingly told in just 93 seconds, entirely with computer-generated imagery. The action is artfully composed, with the narrative unfolding in one continuous visual-effects shot. The animation is primarily keyframed, with motion capture used to create the performance of the 27 digital tourists who are sucked into the action.

The experience utilizes 3D stereoscopic imagery at 8k resolution, which is shown at 60fps playback speed. This unique, high-resolution setup over two large opposing screens and the skillful use of 3D generates an environment where the barrier between the audience and the action disappears. The screens seem to “dissolve” away and the tram riders are transported to another world where they are attacked by dinosaurs and caught up in an epic battle before being rescued by the fearsome Kong.

Adding to believability is the artistry of the creature’s textures, the result of intricate work and attention to detail. The environment’s lighting creates a stunning beauty, in contrast to the ferocious nature of the action. These aspects contribute to a realism that, when combined with the dynamic animation, 3D stereography and immense scale, creates an experience unlike any other in the world.



Links: http://www.wetafx.co.nz/features/king_kong_3603d

Visual Effects Supervisor: Matt Aitken

VFX Producer: Kevin Sherwood

Animation Supervisor: Eric Reynolds

Compositing Supervisor: Dave Houghton

Digital FX Supervisor: R. Christopher White

Weta Digital (NZ) is a world leading visual effects company based in Wellington, New Zealand. It provides a full suite of digital production services for feature films and high end commercials, from concept design to cutting edge 3D animation. Weta was formed in 1993 by a group of young New Zealand filmmakers including Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor and Jamie Selkirk. It later split into two specialised halves - Weta Digital (digital effects) and Weta Workshop (physical effects).