Digital and Animation Professions: Behind the Scenes
Digital and Animation Professions: Exploring the Invisible to Inspire Vocations
Are you familiar with the profession of "Cloth & Fur" specialist? Working in the shadows of the credits, these experts dedicate their know-how exclusively to the physics of clothing, the texture of hair, or the realism of a coat. Whether it is the fur of Rocky (from the duo Rocky & Lily), the coats of the Marsupilamis, or the fineness of the feathers in Ploey II, these digital artisans illustrate the increasing specialization of our sector.
As digital technology evolves at lightning speed, Dreamwall is actively committed to media education and highlighting these professions that are often unknown to the general public.
Between Pedagogy and Expertise: Dreamwall in the Field
The studio does not limit itself to producing world-renowned images, such as for The Red Turtle or The Smurfs. We consider it our responsibility to make visible the complexity of our tools and the magic that happens behind every pixel. This commitment was recently illustrated through three events:
A Cinema Lesson at the Pixath Festival:
Olivier Auquier, Artistic Director at Dreamwall, shared his experience and career path during a meeting captured by Notele's cameras. Explaining the inner workings of creation—from initial concept to final rendering—helps demystify animation and shows that behind the technology, there are primarily teams of artists.
Decoding Technologies with RTL Play:
In a recent episode of "Tout s'explique" on RTL Play, our experts opened the doors of our studios. The goal? To decode the technologies transforming screens and explain how our teams of 3D animation artists bring characters like The Smurfs to life.
Constant Openness to the Next Generation:
Whenever the opportunity arises, Dreamwall opens its doors. Whether it is to welcome journalists or via the tour program organized with the RTBF, we allow the curious and future talents to discover what goes on behind the scenes.
A Multi-Faceted Industry: From Sketch to Pixel
The animation sector in Belgium possesses a rare vitality. However, many professions essential to the production of a series or an international feature film remain in the shadows. The manufacturing chain mobilizes a diversity of complementary talents:
Pre-production (Storyboard and Layout): Before animation, the pace and framing must be defined. The storyboarder translates the script into images, while layout artists prepare the stage space for the characters.
Design and Environment: Creating the worlds in which the heroes evolve. This ranges from digital painting for backgrounds to the creation of complex textures for objects.
Technical Preparation (Rigging): A pivotal stage where the digital "skeleton" of 2D or 3D characters is built. This allows animators to manipulate models with fluidity and precision.
Animation (2D and 3D): The heart of the profession. Whether drawing traditional lines or manipulating digital puppets, the animator provides the performance, intention, and emotion to the protagonists.
Technical Architecture and IT: Behind the scenes, IT profiles and Technical Directors (TD) structure the workflows (pipelines) and guarantee the stability of the tools used by artists.
Final Image (Compositing and VFX): The ultimate stage where characters, backgrounds, and special effects merge. This is where the lighting is harmonized to give the film its cinematic dimension.
Preparing the Digital Future
For Dreamwall, media education is not just a buzzword. By showing the reality of the work of a Line Producer, a Lead Animator, or an FX Specialist, we hope to stimulate young people and inspire vocations for the digital fields of tomorrow. Knowledge is the ultimate treasure, and we wish to cultivate this continuous learning with you.
Want to discover what goes on behind the scenes?
You can also dive into our universe! We regularly organize tours of our studios via the RTBF to let you discover our talents and technologies.