The latest chapter in Tonic DNA’s in-house R&D project JUMP just landed and finds the Montreal studio exploring an Unreal engine pipeline and AI tools to further develop the look and motion for their universe-hopping character Leaf.

Jay Caplan, creative planner and designer at Tonic DNA: “Producing each episode of JUMP serves as a research platform for new tools to add to the studio toy box. For JUMP 1.0, our goal was to merge 3D and 2D animation to achieve a new and visually exciting style while introducing our hero Leaf.

“This year, we released JUMP 2.0 where Leaf pauses to refuel for the next jump to another world – with ominous results! The goal was to roadtest an Unreal engine pipeline, as well as try out AI software to capture motion data. JUMP is one of our Playground projects, a space to experiment where Tonic DNA artists can explore new ideas and push the boundaries of their craft.”
 
Watch the making-of video:
 

 

 
JUMP 1.0
Production: Tonic DNA
Director: Malcolm Sutherland
EP: Stefanie Bitton
Producer: Frédérique Parenteau
Production Manager: Sofie Lamontagne
Creative Strategist: Jay Caplan
Lead 3D Modelling, Rigging: Kim Fredette
Environment Modelling, Texturing, Lighting: Lisandre Thériault
Prop Modelling & Textures: Maxime Pelletier
Compositing: Marta Grasso
Compositing & Motion Graphics: Alien Ma Alfonso
Character/Look Dev: Michael Renaud

JUMP 2.0
Production: Tonic DNA
Director: Wiley Townsend
EP: Stefanie Bitton
Producer: Frédérique Parenteau
R&D Consultant: Nadim Chartouni
Production Manager: Sofie Lamontagne
Creative Strategist: Jay Caplan
Animation: Wiley Townsend­
Art Director & Compositing: Marta Grasso
Technical Lead: Kim Fredette
Lighting: Lisandre Thériault & Maxime Pelletier
Writer: Frédérique Parenteau
Animation R&D: Ariane Ouimet
Concept Art: Michael Renaud & Lisandre Thériault