MillTv creates graphic reptile effects for BBC

MillTv has provided the effects for three one-hour BBC programmes detailing the behaviour and science behind a wide range of reptiles.
The team from MillTv created many graphics showing reptiles in action based on real skeletons. Research was undertaken at a South African University where a low-dose X-ray moving-footage camera had been developed. This bespoke camera was used to film a moving turtle and a snake eating. The results were anatomically interesting, but not visually arresting. So MillTv set about trying to develop an aesthetic in collaboration with series producer, Phil Chapman. These X-ray shots were imbued with vivid colours to achieve a more interesting visual style, often using white backgrounds to differentiate the sequences from conventional X-ray imagery.
To make the X-ray sequences more dynamic, the special footage was used as a starting point for 3D recreations.
Following this approach, MillTv created sequences involving diverse animals and dramatic actions, including a snake biting a rat in ultra slow motion; a lizard eating a rabbit; a whole sequence of snakes following scent trails; and demo sequences illustrating how various reptiles hunt, eat, run, walk, swim and fly.
(GB)