Aardman Animation, long known for its meticulous stop motion animation on series like Wallace and Gromit, has been quietly branching into the CG realm, opening the doors for 3D animators to join the company. Its latest offering, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, looks to be an intriguing blend between both the very traditional and latest animation techniques.

3D Animation & Visual Effects grad Giancarlo D’erchie, whose previous credits include the effects-heavy Battle: Los Angeles, has joined the Aardman crew on this latest voyage, and he generously answered a few questions about the production.

You’ve gone from huge special effects movies to a company that is still known primarily for using one of the most traditional animation techniques, stop motion. How has the journey been?

Giancarlo: The journey has been interesting; I fortunately started to work in big budget feature films straight after graduating from VFS. My first break took me to Toronto to work at several well-known VFX studios. I have always wanted to be a part of an Aardman Animation project, and because of my fine arts background I was brought on to The Pirates!, their new feature film with Sony. This is however still a big effects movie, with over 1500 VFX CG shots that need to be integrated, with CG characters, sky, water, animation, digital mattes, and effects. Aardman is now able to extend their vision through their traditional style, and combine the two elements in the Aardman way. This film is shot in stop motion animation, and this is the first time they’ve had an in-house VFX facility and are completely in stereo. Basically the VFX department assists to unify the old way of animation with the new way to make movies.

How would you describe the difference between the studios you’ve worked in before and Aardman?

Giancarlo: The big difference on this project is that normally the production and shooting crew are wrapped and all the filming is complete and “in the can” so to speak when the VFX team really gets down to work. However on this project it is very different as all VFX artists are working alongside the shooting crew and the VFX supervisor, Andrew Morely, and the two directors, Pete Lord and Jeff Newitt. We have the opportunity to see the beautiful and elaborate sets daily and this studio has a much different atmosphere that is more vibrant, creative, and active, which helps greatly with the creative process.

What can you tell us about your role on their latest film, The Pirates! Band of Misfits? What is your role on the film?

Giancarlo: I am currently a Senior Digital and Stereo Compositor at Aardman Animation. The differences from other studios is I am working closely with the VFX Supervisor and covering all aspects of the shots, from the technical to the creative aspects, integrating with the various departments and the required dependencies. Here if we require reference material or technical information we can simply visit one of our many active sets on the floor.

We can’t wait to see this, Giancarlo!