While out in LA for the #ChristopherRobinEvent, we visited Walt Disney Animation Studios for #RalphBreaksTheInternetEvent presentations and learned all about how the teams came together to make this amazing movie.
Photo by Alex Kang/Disney. ©2018 Disney. All Rights Reserved.
Josie Trinidad (Head of Story), Jason Hand (Story Artist) and Natalie Nourigat (Story Artist), explain the unique roles that the story team played not only in developing a new adventure for Ralph and Vanellope, but also in envisioning the ever-evolving world of the internet
While listening to their presentation, it was evident that collaboration is key to the success of a movie. Jason Hand shared that they are always trying to find best idea. “If it’s not working throw it out and try something different.”
Photo by Alex Kang/Disney. ©2018 Disney. All Rights Reserved.
When thinking of Internet concepts, they looked at memes and viral video. Natalie Nourigat shared the process of how some of the Internet choices began to seem more mean than funny and that the Meme Generator seemed to be a better fit.
Serious numbers to Consider for Creation of Ralph Breaks the Internet
- 15 story artists
- 10 screenings
- 45 total sequences
- 153 total sequences boarded
- 7883 total sequences versions
- 283939 total storyboards
I was in awe of these numbers and the amount of choices that need to be made to come up with the final product.
Technical Supervisor Ernie Petti, Art Director, Environments Matthias Lechner and Head of Environments Larry Wu as seen at the Long Lead Press Day for RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET at Walt Disney Animation Studios on July 31, 2018. Photo by Alex Kang/Disney. ©2018 Disney. All Rights Reserved.
THE WEB’S WIDE WORLD – Matthias Lechner (Art Director, environments), Larry Wu (Head of Environments) and Ernie Petti (Technical Supervisor) talk about the daunting task of turning the abstract concept of the internet into a complex, thriving metropolis.
After a visit to One Wilshire Boulevard in downtown LA, the ideas began to flow. This building houses all internet connections where Internet Wires and servers that connect the world. The building is wires and boxes that inspired what the internet might look like.
RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET – Internet landing hub environment visual development by Matthias Lechner (Art Director, Environments) ©Disney. All Rights Reserved.
Larry Wu shared that they wanted the Internet to have a metropolis feel. Ernie Petti explained that they needed to populate 1000s of buildings and find new innovative ways to handle the amount of sheer stuff.
RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET – Internet surface web environment visual development by Matthias Lechner (Art DIrector, Environments) ©Disney. All Rights Reserved.
Ralph Breaks the Internet: LAYOUT – During the layout phase, layout artists determine approximately where the characters will be positioned and how they will move in a given scene. They also establish where the virtual cameras will be placed. This effort helps directors bring storyboards into the CG environment, while narrowing down the infinite possibilities a scene presents. Animators begin their efforts with layout, adding detailed character performance along the way. Nathan Warner serves as the director of cinematography, layout for “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” which hits theaters on Nov. 21, 2018. ©Disney. All Rights Reserved.
Ralph Breaks the Internet: LIGHTING – Lighting is among the final stages of shot production in animation, though the lighting department is integral to the look of the film as production gets underway. Lighting artists can place individual lights within a scene, but for a scene as big as the one in which Ralph and Vanellope visit the internet for the first time, technology is utilized to place multiples of similar lights—like those on a building, for example—creating a more efficient process for dealing with a massive and diverse number of light sources. Brian Leach is the director of cinematography, lighting for “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” which opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 21, 2018. ©2018 Disney. All Rights Reserved.
In addition to the many stages of lighting that brought life to the Internet world we see, we also found out that there are so many Easter eggs in this movie. There are little hidden jokes everywhere.
Advice for Our Younger Generations: Draw as much as you can. Intern in an animation studio. If you like animation, you can go to art school or you can have a science background.
The type of work needed to create such an amazing place is a marriage of art and technology. When these backgrounds come together, groundbreaking work occurs.
POPULATING THE INTERNET – Cory Loftis (Production Designer), Dave Komorowski (Head of Characters and Technical Animation), Renato dos Anjos (Head of Animation) and Moe El-Ali (Crowds’ Supervisor) explore the process of creating the inhabitants of the internet, from the “Netizens” to the “Net Users”
Photo by Alex Kang/Disney. ©2018 Disney. All Rights Reserved.
In this new movie, the characters are enhanced and richer. You will see wrinkles in clothes and the skin looks more lifelike.
Who are the Characters of the Internet in Ralph Breaks the Internet?
©Disney. All Rights Reserved.
- Net users are Internet versions of you and me. They are the avatars.
©Disney. All Rights Reserved.
- Netizens – full-time citizens of Internet They work at various websites and offer guidance as you search
RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET – Yesss character visual development by (L-R):
Cory Loftis (production designer)
Ami Thompson (art director, characters)
Ami Thompson (art director, characters)
Ami Thompson (art director, characters) ©Disney. All Rights Reserved
Who is Yess?
- She is the curator of cool on the Internet
- Constantly changing outfits and hairstyles
- Algorithm- she has digital Circuitry running through her dress
- Coat is made of fiber optics
- Receives information – data is flowing through her hair
RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET – KnowsMore character visual development model sheet by Cory Loftis (Production Designer) ©Disney. All Rights Reserved.
Who is KnowsMore?
Ask Jeeves like KnowsMore is a mascot of his own website. At first, they played around with what he should look like. Maybe a Lightbulb? They went with professor.
At the end of our time together, Renato dos Anjos, Head of Animation, said, “I think Walt would be proud.”
I would have to say I truly agree!
Stay connected on Social for WRECK-IT RALPH
Visit the official RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2 website here
RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2 arrives in theaters everywhere on November 21st!
I am so excited to see this movie with my family!
My youngest nephew watches the first one every time he can. No doubt, this one will be on his list.
What a great event. My grandsons are excited to see this movie.
I didn’t think about having a science background if you want to go into animation. Great information for those up and coming!
Fascinating information. Thanks for the post.
My wife loves the first Wreck-It-Ralph. We are planning on seeing the sequel in the movie theater.
This is such interesting information. My kids love this movie!
Great information. I never realized how much goes into making a good movie.
My granddaughters would love to see this movie.
Amazed at the details that went into this movie. Probably have to watch more than once to catch it all.
I would really like to see this with my granddaughter she would love it