VFX Legion shared a glimpse of their creativity, technical ingenuity, and experience developing and producing intricate digital effects for a complex mix of shots for Just Beyond currently featured on Disney+. The genre anthology, inspired by Boom! Studios’ series of graphic novels written by R.L Stine, features eight episodes, each with a different cast and a stand-alone story set in the supernatural realm.
VFX Legion was brought on board to design the elaborate effects for the third episode ‘Which Witch?’ and create onscreen sorcery that drives the otherworld tale. The protagonist in the story is Fiona. The only witch at her high school, she successfully navigated her teen years by keeping her powers a secret. Everything changes with the arrival of her cousin Luna, who, unlike Fiona, is eager to show off her magical abilities.
As the story unfolds, it calls for an increasing number of challenging displays of computer-generated wizardry – from awe-inspiring to horrifying. In one of the scenes, a witch appears, transported into the scene via a swirling tornado-like CG vortex; a digital cloud fills the room as she uses her powers.
Headed up by co-founder and VFX supervisor, James David Hattin, Legion’s LA and B.C. studio’s team crafted a variety of digital simulations, seamlessly matching camera angles and blending the photorealistic imagery with practical footage. Throughout the story, conjurations are manifested by a range of dynamic visual effects simulated by artists in Houdini.
For a particular scene artists modeled a ‘hero’ cockroach, replicated it adding different animated movements, raining down 100’s of digital insects from CG storm clouds.
“It was one of the thrills of my life. Now I’m thrilled to be back with Disney for the TV series based on my graphic novels. Writing Just Beyond for BOOM! Studios have been a joy from the beginning, and I’m so happy to have the wonderful screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith bring the series to life on Disney+. How lucky can I be author R.L. Stine had said earlier in an official statement shared by Disney+.
Seth Grahame-Smith serves as writer and showrunner on Just Beyond. The series is executive produced by Grahame-Smith, David Katzenberg and Aaron Schmidt via KatzSmith Productions. David Walpert and Marc Webb also serve as executive producers alongside Ross Richie, Stephen Christy and Mark Ambrose of BOOM!. Stine is attached as co-executive producer. Just Beyond is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios.
