The Good Dinosaur in Theaters November 25, 2015
THE GOOD DINOSAUR – Pictured: Spot.
CHECK THIS OUT – Inspired by the American Northwest, the setting for “The Good Dinosaur” is not only completely exterior, it features ever-changing weather. To prepare, Pixar’s artists and technicians created a rain and cloud library, featuring different types of rain and a selection of clouds that could be mixed and matched, and stretched, squashed and manipulated to create any desired look.
While clouds are typically done in matte paintings, for the first time ever, “The Good Dinosaur” features 100-percent volumetric clouds. This means, they are mobile, dimensional and can be lit from any camera angle, creating a stunning look.
WIDE-OPEN SPACES – To achieve the wide-open look director Peter Sohn desired, filmmakers utilized height field data from the U.S. Geological Survey that allowed them capture elevation details from actual areas in the country. This was the first step in creating a fully realized environment that allowed filmmakers remarkable flexibility in terms of camera placement.
PHOTO REAL? –The landscapes and environments in “The Good Dinosaur” are extraordinary, transporting audiences to a world where they can almost feel the raindrops. But filmmakers say it isn’t photo-real—just detailed in a way advanced technology and style decisions allow.
THE GOOD DINOSAUR – Pictured (L-R): Ramsey, Nash. ©2015 Disney•Pixar.
Some members of the team playfully refer to the look as “Sharon Calahan Realism,” in honor of the director of photographylighting. As a passionate landscape painter, Calahan has spent countless hours painting in the very areas that inspired the film’s setting. Her trained eye made a significant contribution to the film’s overall look.
H-2-OH! – “The Good Dinosaur” features more water shots than any Pixar feature before it, including more than 125 shots of the river alone.
THE GOOD DINOSAUR – Pictured (L-R): Arlo, Spot. ©2015 Disney•Pixar.
