The Last of Us S2

In Episode 202, we were tasked with burning the Bloater as Tommy continuously hits him with a flamethrower as he is getting chased through the streets and alleys of Jackson.

Visually, it was important to show the Bloater becoming progressively more damaged over the course of the sequence.

We developed three hero asset stages, using the undamaged version from Wētā FX as our base. These various stages were used to drive different types of skin interaction FX.

During the early stages, the moisture in the Bloater’s skin begins to heat up, creating a sizzling-like effect. As the sequence progresses, the cordyceps plates start to char and the softer tissue begins to dry up and eventually tear open. These effects were driven by a heat value based on the duration of exposure to the flamethrower. We referenced the behavior of meat and vegetables under heat and fire to inform the look and progression of the burn.

In Episode 207, we handled a stormy water sequence in which a large swell interferes with Ellie’s attempt to reach the Aquarium. The work combined live-action plates with full CG shots, particularly for the wider views, which featured a digital double and CG boat. The water surface was created using ILP's proprietary ocean tools, then using that as a base we simulated the interaction from the boat as well as secondary elements like whitewater and blowoffs.