Did the CG improve in Season 3?

*CyberCubed* · 11-22-2014, 06:58 PM

I notice that the backgrounds and CG scenery in Season 3 looks much improved over Seasons 1-2. The forest in particular in both morning and night looks really good.

What I also notice is how many "sets" look good now. Look at how detailed the store was in the "Dream Beavers" episodes. They had to build that from scratch and all the shelves were filled with items.

In the last episode the highway and all the roads were done very well. I also liked the Punk Frog's forest tree-house.

Gunpowder · 11-22-2014, 07:08 PM

You know, I've been wondering the same thing. I think a big part of it is because it's mostly been daytime in the season 3 episodes, which allows for brighter colors and more easily visible textures. Whereas previously, they were always in the city running around at night, so those kinds of details weren't as apparent, and the colors were more faint-looking.

Even in some of the daytime episodes of the first season (I, Monster; Operation Breakout), some of the backgrounds looked nicer simply because it was brighter than usual. Not denying the visuals have improved, though, because they most certainly have - but the brightness helps.

*Jephael* · 11-22-2014, 07:41 PM

Yea, I kinda noticed in the Speed Demon episode the animation was really fluid. I like how they've been improving.

*snake* · 11-22-2014, 07:47 PM

Yeah, the animation has progressed a lot.

evan2000 · 11-23-2014, 12:39 AM

It's not just the texture detail and 3D models that have increased in quality (and quantity), I noticed the physics-accuracy of the animation has also improved a lot. For example, optical distortion:

Notice how the chrome surface of the engine block reflect its environment, and how the heat from the flames warp the background in the dream.

Also, the animation of living things seems more realistic/organic now. The chicken moves like a real chicken and the beavers moves like actual rodents (I haven't observed a real beaver before, but I've seen hamsters which I suppose have similar movements):

Lastly, I think the lighting and shadow effects have also improved, not so much on the rendering aspect but more on how the animators use them effectively (eg. to bring out the creepy atmosphere):

*CyberCubed* · 11-23-2014, 01:03 AM

Yeah, I definitely noticed everything looks more visually impressive.

*Powder* · 11-23-2014, 01:44 AM

Am I weird for sorta preferring the more stiff animation style of season one?

evan2000 · 11-23-2014, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powder

Am I weird for sorta preferring the more stiff animation style of season one?

Which part was "stiff" in season one?

I've always notice that character animation throughout the series felt natural, you can observe little traces of life-like breathing and ears movement etc. from most characters in the show. Sometimes I wonder if they use motion capture suits to get the animation right, as those require higher production budget than this show could realistically afford. Things like these make the show more realistic and believable, and a true piece of art.

*Candy Kappa* · 11-23-2014, 02:46 AM

Yeah, the animation gets better and better, and I think the cg models have been tweaked or the animators are just getting more fluid in the animation.

And actual shiny metal surface texture. Maybe they have gotten a better budget, or a faster render. Although brushed metal isn't as bad as shiny metal to render.

~~Davetello~~ · 11-23-2014, 02:51 AM

Yeah, I'm another who has been thinking this. To be fair, I think it's much easier to show off impressive CGI in an isolated, secluded rural setting than in a cramped New York or dark sewer. But certainly when we first seen Northampton in the first episode of the season I was quite surprised at how good the show looked. I actually feel that the best looking scenes in the first two seasons were those involving the Foot and especially Shredder. I think they looked fantastic and better than the turtles.

I've yet to see Friday's episode so I can't comment on that. But overall the season's CGI has been very impressive thus far.

evan2000 · 11-23-2014, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Candy Kappa

Yeah, the animation gets better and better, and I think the cg models have been tweaked or the animators are just getting more fluid in the animation.

And actual shiny metal surface texture. Maybe they have gotten a better budget, or a faster render. Although brushed metal isn't as bad as shiny metal to render.

I suspect they used ray-tracing techniques to get the reflection/refraction right, it's a complex and computationally expensive algorithm to get accurate reflection off non-flat surfaces. If you look closely you can see the distorted reflection of Donnie and Casey's head on the shiny metal surface!

*Powder* · 11-23-2014, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evan2000

Which part was "stiff" in season one?

Well, it's not that it was stiff, it's just comparably less fluid than the current season. Portions of the fights are replaced with comic book style splashes, things are less shiny giving & it has a slightly claymation vibe to it, kinda. To me, at least. I dunno.

There's also little things like using anime faces in place of full expressions. That kinda thing makes it "stiff", so to speak.

~~Davetello~~ · 11-23-2014, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powder

Well, it's not that it was stiff, it's just comparably less fluid than the current season. Portions of the fights are replaced with comic book style splashes, things are less shiny giving & it has a slightly claymation vibe to it, kinda. To me, at least. I dunno.

There's also little things like using anime faces in place of full expressions. That kinda thing makes it "stiff", so to speak.

I love all those comic book styles splashes in the first two seasons. I like them when telling origin stories etc as well.

evan2000 · 11-23-2014, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powder

Well, it's not that it was stiff, it's just comparably less fluid than the current season. Portions of the fights are replaced with comic book style splashes, things are less shiny giving & it has a slightly claymation vibe to it, kinda. To me, at least. I dunno.

There's also little things like using anime faces in place of full expressions. That kinda thing makes it "stiff", so to speak.

Yeah, agree that animation was less fluid in season 1 and occasional usage of slow-mo somehow reduced the natural feel (but make it cooler in return). The usage of anime faces can still be found in season 2 & 3 but probably not as frequent as the first season. The ironic thing is that whenever it gets used it reminds me of the Revoltech figures, which IS stiff!

*Candy Kappa* · 11-23-2014, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evan2000

I suspect they used ray-tracing techniques to get the reflection/refraction right, it's a complex and computationally expensive algorithm to get accurate reflection off non-flat surfaces. If you look closely you can see the distorted reflection of Donnie and Casey's head on the shiny metal surface!

I know, I've worked quite a lot with 3D modeling and animation programs.

evan2000 · 11-23-2014, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davetello

I love all those comic book styles splashes in the first two seasons. I like them when telling origin stories etc as well.

I think "comic book style splashes" refers to scenes like these, when only the background turned into 2D anime drawing style:

I guess the style that they use to tell the character origin/flashbacks is called motion comic or something.

~~Davetello~~ · 11-23-2014, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evan2000

I think "comic book style splashes" refers to scenes like these, when only the background turned into 2D anime drawing style:

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc...to6_r1_500.gif

I guess the style that they use to tell the character origin/flashbacks is called motion comic or something.

Thanks mate. I knew there was a distinction. I just didn't know what that was called. Motion comic makes sense since it looks sort of like that Watchmen motion comic.

jenna · 11-23-2014, 06:24 AM

Definitely agree that the animation is constantly improving. I thought it was pretty amazing in Season 1, but it has become better and better.

*snake* · 11-23-2014, 07:48 AM

Water. This show does water so well.

*Sabacooza* · 11-23-2014, 08:04 AM

I definitely see an improvement. The same thing happened with "Star Wars: The Clone Wars". That started out with minimal textures and animation. The explosions looked like puffs of colored smoke. later on, animation was better, their hair actually moved, they used real stock footage of explosions and the texturing and over all quality was improved.

People can say what they want about the current season of TMNT but I personally love it. I also love the attention to detail and all the love and care they're putting into this series now if they'd do the same for promoting it.

The best has yet to come.

11-22-2014, 06:58 PM	#1
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,838	Did the CG improve in Season 3? I notice that the backgrounds and CG scenery in Season 3 looks much improved over Seasons 1-2. The forest in particular in both morning and night looks really good. What I also notice is how many "sets" look good now. Look at how detailed the store was in the "Dream Beavers" episodes. They had to build that from scratch and all the shelves were filled with items. In the last episode the highway and all the roads were done very well. I also liked the Punk Frog's forest tree-house.

11-22-2014, 07:08 PM	#2
Gunpowder Stone Warrior Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Louisiana Posts: 715	You know, I've been wondering the same thing. I think a big part of it is because it's mostly been daytime in the season 3 episodes, which allows for brighter colors and more easily visible textures. Whereas previously, they were always in the city running around at night, so those kinds of details weren't as apparent, and the colors were more faint-looking. Even in some of the daytime episodes of the first season (I, Monster; Operation Breakout), some of the backgrounds looked nicer simply because it was brighter than usual. Not denying the visuals have improved, though, because they most certainly have - but the brightness helps. __________________ Jason Biggs was the best Leonardo. Last edited by Gunpowder; 11-22-2014 at 07:16 PM.

11-22-2014, 07:41 PM	#3
Jephael That whack job behind you Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Carlisle, Pennsylvania Posts: 8,143	Yea, I kinda noticed in the Speed Demon episode the animation was really fluid. I like how they've been improving. __________________ "I like it. Simple, but effective!" Raphael; The Mean Machines - 1988

11-23-2014, 02:46 AM	#9
Candy Kappa The Agenda of Existing Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vikingland Posts: 14,596	Yeah, the animation gets better and better, and I think the cg models have been tweaked or the animators are just getting more fluid in the animation. And actual shiny metal surface texture. Maybe they have gotten a better budget, or a faster render. Although brushed metal isn't as bad as shiny metal to render. __________________ devianArt Instagram Youtube Tumblr Art Blog Patreon

11-22-2014, 07:47 PM	#4
snake Disgusting Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Outer Heaven Posts: 12,231	Yeah, the animation has progressed a lot.

11-23-2014, 12:39 AM	#5
evan2000 Stone Warrior Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Malaysia Posts: 858	It's not just the texture detail and 3D models that have increased in quality (and quantity), I noticed the physics-accuracy of the animation has also improved a lot. For example, optical distortion: Notice how the chrome surface of the engine block reflect its environment, and how the heat from the flames warp the background in the dream. Also, the animation of living things seems more realistic/organic now. The chicken moves like a real chicken and the beavers moves like actual rodents (I haven't observed a real beaver before, but I've seen hamsters which I suppose have similar movements): Lastly, I think the lighting and shadow effects have also improved, not so much on the rendering aspect but more on how the animators use them effectively (eg. to bring out the creepy atmosphere):

11-23-2014, 01:03 AM	#6
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,838	Yeah, I definitely noticed everything looks more visually impressive.

11-23-2014, 01:44 AM	#7
Powder 40 Years of TMNT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shell-Ri-La Posts: 26,945	Am I weird for sorta preferring the more stiff animation style of season one?

11-23-2014, 02:51 AM	#10
~~Davetello~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Greater Glasgow, Scotland, The Ununited Kingdom Posts: 1,712	Yeah, I'm another who has been thinking this. To be fair, I think it's much easier to show off impressive CGI in an isolated, secluded rural setting than in a cramped New York or dark sewer. But certainly when we first seen Northampton in the first episode of the season I was quite surprised at how good the show looked. I actually feel that the best looking scenes in the first two seasons were those involving the Foot and especially Shredder. I think they looked fantastic and better than the turtles. I've yet to see Friday's episode so I can't comment on that. But overall the season's CGI has been very impressive thus far.

11-23-2014, 06:24 AM	#18
jenna Mad Scientist Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,190	Definitely agree that the animation is constantly improving. I thought it was pretty amazing in Season 1, but it has become better and better.

11-23-2014, 07:48 AM	#19
snake Disgusting Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Outer Heaven Posts: 12,231	Water. This show does water so well.

11-23-2014, 08:04 AM	#20
Sabacooza Mad Scientist Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,994	I definitely see an improvement. The same thing happened with "Star Wars: The Clone Wars". That started out with minimal textures and animation. The explosions looked like puffs of colored smoke. later on, animation was better, their hair actually moved, they used real stock footage of explosions and the texturing and over all quality was improved. People can say what they want about the current season of TMNT but I personally love it. I also love the attention to detail and all the love and care they're putting into this series now if they'd do the same for promoting it. The best has yet to come.