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0 pointsjsheard2y ago0 comments

Do they still? They used Unreal for the virtual sets in The Mandalorian S1, but for S2 they switched over to a different solution.

https://www.ilm.com/vfx/the-mandalorian/

> For season one of the series ILM StageCraft utilized Unreal Engine to perform the real-time render

https://www.ilm.com/vfx/the-mandalorian-season-2/

> The real-time render engine called Helios was specifically developed by ILM engineers

> Ctrl-F "Unreal" - no results

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reactordev2y ago

StageCraft IS Unreal Engine.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/StageCraft

ILM used Unreal Engine to make StageCraft and kept iterating on it until it’s the awesome tech that it is. They have a vested interest in seeing the underlying engine continue to prosper.

jsheardOP2y ago

They made a point of highlighting the use of Unreal during the production of Season 1, but then it's completely absent from their discussion of later seasons, instead only referencing an in-house renderer they call Helios. Have they specifically said anywhere that they're still using Unreal Engine?

https://www.ilm.com/industrial-light-magic-to-expand-stagecr...

This 2021 article mentions that external productions using StageCraft services can choose to use either Unreal or Helios for rendering, so the Unreal integration may still be available for those who want it, but obviously ILM didn't write a brand new renderer for the fun of it. Unreal must not have been cutting it for their own productions.

katabatic2y ago

StageCraft WAS Unreal Engine; it is not anymore.

westurner2y ago

StageCraft: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StageCraft

What is Helios?

/? Helios StageCraft https://rebusfarm.net/news/ilm-stagecraft-a-virtual-producti... :

> StageCraft leverages Helios ILM’s real-time cinema render engine. It is a set of LED screens that work as a 360 extension digital set, allowing filmmakers to explore new ideas, communicate concepts, and execute shots in a collaborative and flexible production environment.

Is there a way to vary the [UE] AutoLOD for longer shots? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38160089

That's not even cinematography! Because there aren't lenses, there are presumably Camera matrices.

Cinematography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinematography

Computer graphics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_graphics

"Ask HN: What's the state of the art for drawing math diagrams online?" (2023) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38355444 ; generative-manim, manimGPT, BlenderGPT, ipyblender, o3de, how do we teach primary math intuition with the platforms that reach them, how do we Manim in 3 or even 4D?

Manim > "Render with [Blender and/or od3e]" https://github.com/ManimCommunity/manim/issues/3362

FWIU Disney Games are often built with Panda3d, which works with pygame-web/pygbag in WASM now

Research: "Fabric of the Cosmos", "Cosmos", "How the Universe Works",

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highwaylights2y ago

I believe the new version is called StageCraft: Brood War.

Thank you.

esskay2y ago

I've got a family member that works on production at Lucas, Unreal is still very much a mainstay and not going anywhere.

They're actually expanding their use of it with more virtual sets, mainly because they're now leasing them out a fair bit and need the capacity.

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