The Brief

Rising Sun initially provided pre-visualisation services for the film, as well as some onset supervision at Fox Studios. For the vfx sequences, the team created the Juvenile 'Bone Claws' for Young Logan, the Adamantium Injection sequence, and a number of photo-real matte paintings including the Generals arriving at Alkali lake, and the carnival sequence.

VFX Supervisor Pat McClung & Director Gavin Hood initially met with Rising Sun in LA to give the initial brief and scope for the sequences. This provided a great vision for the shots, and determined the direction for conceptual research & development. Whilst the previous X-Men films gave a good reference for the style, the Rising Sun sequences were primarily CG additions integrating with live action environments and props.

For both the Bone Claws & the Adamantium claws, we reference footage shot onset with the claw prosthetics, to show how they would interact within the environment. This gave a good starting point. For some of the shots, the practical claws were removed before adding the redesigned CG Claws.

As the claws emerge from Logan's hands for the first time, a warping effect was applied to the back of his hand. The idea was that the skin on the back of his hand was rising and moving as the blades slowly emerged from under it – it was a prolonged, creepy moment as the claws grow.

The Creative Process

For the Adamantium injection sequence, the set was a warehouse dressed to look like the interior of an abandoned Nuclear Power Station. Suspended in the middle is Logan in a tank surrounded by an Injection Machine. The machine was mostly complete onset, and the prop of the needle gun was provided as reference for the CG replacement.

Due to safety reasons, the guns and needles were not on the actual rig - with Logan's body thrashing around, it was not practical. These needles, the rig and the tubes were added by the Rising Sun team. As the movement of the machine needed to be articulated to match Logan’s thrashing, the guns and needles needed to move around more than was practical. As a result for some shots the entire rig was replaced with a CG model, with embellished joints & extra hoses to accentuate the movement.

Additionally there were some practical bubbles rising in the tank in the foreground. These needed to be removed, then the CG rigs were added, then additional bubbles were layered on top. There’s a lot of 2d layering over the rendered guns, needles & bubbles.