Green Magic: The VFX behind Sleeping Beauty for the RNZB

Following on from the incredibly successful 2019 season of Hansel and Gretel, the POW VFX team were invited again to work with the Royal New Zealand Ballet this year on another much-loved classic, The Sleeping Beauty. 

Working with the team at the RNZB is a marriage: production design, lighting, VFX, props, costume, score, and orchestra form the bridal party, the function of which is to serve the raison d'être – les danseurs. 

Our task was to enhance Carabosse, the fallen fairy who curses Princess Aurora to sleep forever. Knowing that the success of the marriage rests on the balance of virtual and actual, we set about realising a language for her “evil”. 

With an artistic nod to the vintage animated versions of Carabosse, VFX Artist Tim Hamilton took a straight-forward approach, recording motion and using it to drive virtual particles. 

Although the particles exist in 3D space they aren’t generated from 3D models. The effect’s motion comes from pre-recorded footage, shot from a single angle. This limited technical interference with both the creative team and the dancers, bypassing the need for motion capture. A vital tactic in a year where schedules were condensed and face to face time was rare.  

This effect took direction from both the choreography and intensity of the score. Tim utilised the movement of the dancer and the dynamics of the score to trigger the generation of the particles and their intensity. The drama of the effect coupled with the incredible character work by Dancer, Kirby Selchow makes the audience feel small, child-like compared to the evil villain.

It’s a real treat for us to explore using Visual Effects as a story-telling device in the context of ballet. Big thanks to the RNZB team, notably Patricia Barker, Andrew Lees, Donna Jefferis, Howard Jones and Kirby Selchow.

Tickets for The Sleeping Beauty are available through the RNZB.