For years, Wētā FX shared research papers in PDF format about their visual effects, but seeing those tools in action was impossible. Now, the studio has released videos showcasing demonstrations of key technologies used in Avatar: The Way of Water and Fire and Ash, including underwater explosions and the character Pahi.
Technical demos reveal the aquatic simulation engine 💧
The videos showcase the operation of proprietary systems for simulating fluids, particles, and body dynamics. Among the demonstrations, algorithms for underwater explosions and the digital recreation of Pahi stand out. These materials allow developers and studios to see how Wētā FX solved complex problems of interaction between water, bubbles, and creatures without relying on standard commercial software.
Now we finally know how they make water look real 🌊
Eight Oscars weren't enough proof that they know what they're doing. Now, with these videos, anyone can see how Wētā FX turns a digital cube of water into a furious wave. The funniest part is that, after years of reading boring PDFs, we can finally understand why Avatar's effects take so long: because simulating a single drop of water requires more math than filing a tax return.