'Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes' Erik Winquist Talks AI
Image Source: TV Insider
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes director Wes Ball constructed the latest film in the franchise to indulge fans, leading with dynamic effects and an impressive story that connects the recent trilogy with the original 1968 Planet of the Apes. Set generations after the events of 2021’s War for the Planet of the Apes, in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, apes have taken control of the world and humans are now an almost completely devolved race. The film’s cast features Owen Teague (It and The Stand) as Noa and Freya Allan (The Witcher) as Mae, with Kevin Durand and Peter Macon rounding out the main cast.
Erik Winquist, the visual effects supervisor, ensured that the film looked it's best using the most up-to-date technology available. With 300 years passing in the Planet of the Apes storyline, it was important to show the progression of verbal language and sophistication for the ape civilization. The visual effects team with Wētā FX used machine-learning solver tools to add to their animation for the film. The team famously used the technology to construct Thanos in the Avengers franchise and natural elements in Avatar: The Way of Water by using digital models.
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Image Source: Befores and Afters
Winquist and the Wētā FX artists made their algorithms and data banks only from the information they have personally created and expanded on with each film they work on. They bank their own reference materials, like footage of different monkey species, actors in motion capture (mocap) suits, and stimulations for visual imagery for the Planet of the Apes franchise.
The AI solvers allow the Wētā FX team to save time by quickly rendering the most complex computer-generated scenes, granting the art directors time to focus on the adjustments needed at each stage of production. Ultimately, the VFX artists returned in full swing to strengthen the visual effects, polishing layers and details to create the perfect features for the realistic apes.
Image Source: Geeks of Color
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes premiered in theaters on May 10th to rave reviews, scoring 80% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film earned $58.5 million in the U.S. during its debut weekend, ranking third for the best opening of 2024 following Dune: Part Two and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
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