Behind the Spectacular Visuals of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

“It took a collective effort of 10 visual effects studios, including Weta FX and Framestore, and a staggering 3066 visual effects shots to bring James Gunn’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” to life during a demanding 15-month post-production process.

The VFX supervisors delved into extensive research to bring Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) to the screen, studying baby raccoons for his backstory and golden retrievers for the talking dog character Cosmo. The sequences, some featuring explosions and intricate action, were meticulously crafted, including the film’s iconic two-minute one-shot scene perfectly synchronized to the beats of the Beastie Boys’ “No Sleep Till Brooklyn.”

Let’s explore the behind-the-scenes process and the challenges faced by the VFX teams.

Cosmo, the talking dog voiced by Maria Bakalova, posed a unique challenge for the team at Framestore. They used real dog photos and footage as references, but the transformation into a CG character required additional work due to Cosmo’s ability to speak. To infuse emotion into Cosmo, they closely analyzed Bakalova’s performance, ensuring her expressions translated seamlessly into the character. The decision to make Cosmo a golden retriever was inspired by a dog named Slate, who belonged to one of the film’s producers. By leveraging Slate’s mannerisms and expressions, the team achieved a lifelike portrayal of Cosmo.

The “stampede” sequence, where Mantis, the Guardians, and over 500 animals are rescued from the High Evolutionary’s ship, posed significant technical challenges for Framestore. Crowd scenes are inherently complex, and adding fur to the creatures while making them interact realistically with each other and the Guardians required meticulous attention to detail. The team began working on the shots as soon as they received the commission, and it became the final shot delivered. Achieving believability was a crucial aspect, and the team employed CG for the animals and the Guardians’ hands, replacing the original plate shots. The scene’s complexity was further amplified by the explosion and separation of the two ships, resulting in a meticulous process of animating fur, turtles, monkeys on pigs, and other elements to create a visually stunning stampede.

Rocket’s heartbreaking backstory unfolded through six different stages of the character’s development. Framestore used the blend shape technique to animate Rocket’s transition from being on all fours to becoming more humanoid. The baby version of Rocket drew inspiration from real raccoons, with the team adapting the character’s emotional range and expression as he grew older. Stef Ceretti, production supervisor at Framestore, collaborated closely with director James Gunn to ensure a cohesive shooting style throughout the film. To achieve this, the team captured the motion of the cameras during the first two days of filming, allowing Gunn to maintain consistency in his shooting style and seamlessly merge live-action scenes with full CG sequences.

The film’s third act, featuring the epic battle between the Guardians and the High Evolutionary, showcased the collaborative efforts of VFX supervisor Guy Williams and animation supervisor Michael Cozens from Weta FX. The battle, set to the iconic Beastie Boys track “No Sleep Till Brooklyn,” presented a unique challenge in synchronizing the action with the music. The scene involved a two-minute uninterrupted shot, digitally stitched together from 18 separate shots. The coordination between VFX, stunt coordinators, and Gunn’s direction was crucial in achieving flawless choreography and seamless transitions between live-action and digital characters. Maintaining the rhythm and synchronizing explosions and gunshots with the beats of the song demanded meticulous planning and execution.

The journey to bring “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3″ to life was a collaborative effort that involved immense creativity, technical expertise, and attention to detail. The film’s VFX teams worked tirelessly to create memorable characters like Cosmo and Rocket, tackle complex action sequences, and synchronize the visuals with the film’s music. Their dedication and innovative approach have elevated the cinematic experience, allowing audiences to immerse themselves in the cosmic world of the Guardians.