"Wild Ride" Mammoth, Cave Painting sequence for the Immersive Earth Project

A dramatic sequence that is part of the The NASA Immersive Earth/ Rice University/Houston Museum of Natural Science's "Wild Ride" planetarium show. The 3 minute sequence takes full advantage of the new hi-definition fulldome projection system that fills the dome view with the scene... along with a 6.1 surround sound setup, the audience is treated to an immersive experience that brings these now extinct animals to life.

The scene segment opens with a graceful walk through a prehistoric cave where early human artists have painted their experiences on the walls and ceiling. The warm environment of the cave transitions to an ice age scene where a small herd of mammoths is struggling in a feirce snowstorm, their bulky silhouettes towering above the planetarium dome's view.

Home Run Pictures animators used Maya software to produce the sequence with the combination of fur modeling for the creatures and matte painting for some of the background elements. Several other scenes were also produced for this immersive fulldome show, including subjects ranging from dinosaurs to volcanos and thunderstorms. The show will premier in March 2005 in Houston and then at various planetariums around th eworld.

© 2005  H o m e  R u n  P i c t u r e s