Elemental

👹 Interesting Fact: Elemental (2023) — The animation process for this project required Pixar to completely overhaul their existing computer systems and rendering capabilities. Unlike traditional animated characters that rely on a standard digital skeleton covered with simulated skin or fur, the main characters in this film are entirely composed of visual effects. The production team had to simulate constant fluid dynamics and active fire simulations for every single frame where Ember and Wade appear on screen. To handle this massive technological requirement, the studio had to upgrade to a massive new computing infrastructure that used over 150,000 distinct cores. The sheer volume of processing power needed was significantly higher than the requirements for their previous projects like Toy Story or The Incredibles. This technical upgrade allowed the visual effects artists to manipulate the physical properties of the elements naturally, ensuring the characters maintained their distinct structural forms while moving through the environments.