What technology is behind the blockbuster 'Avatar 2'?

Cameras, algorithms, hundreds of cuts create the surreal images of the movie Avatar: The Way of Water .

The first Avatar was a milestone in filmmaking and production technology, with its use of CGI, motion capture, and 3D cameras . The technologies from this film were continued to be used by many studios and directors in the following decade.

After 13 years, Director James Cameron brings viewers back to the planet Pandora with a new perspective. Behind the majestic ocean footage are a series of new technological innovations added to the film industry.

The first Avatar was a milestone in filmmaking technology.

Future Camera Technology

The director of two-thirds of the highest-grossing films of all time is also known as a film scientist. The 3D camera James Cameron developed with NASA was used for the Mars mission.

'He was born with the ability to be a scientist. Cameron was always looking for a problem to solve ,' Daniel Goldin, former director of NASA, told QG.

Sony Venice camera was chosen for Avatar: The Way of Water. (Photo: CineD).

For his latest film, Cameron and his team built a new camera system based on an existing solution. They chose Sony's Venice camera for this film.

The Japanese company said it teamed up with Lightstorm Entertainment, the company behind Avatar: The Way of Water, to custom-fit the Venice for 3D imaging. The principle was used by Cameron on his first 3D film, where two cameras are paired together to create a stereoscopic system.

Additionally, the company tweaked the camera to reduce the weight of the entire camera rig. This allowed for greater freedom and flexibility in use, which was a boon for The Way of Water's many underwater scenes.

Sony's Venice also received high marks for its image quality. It was the Japanese manufacturer's first full-frame digital camera. Cameron praised the device for delivering outstanding image quality with deep blacks and smooth color transitions.

The 8K version of this camera costs nearly 60,000 USD, equivalent to 1.4 billion VND.

AI and CGI

Cameron's editing of The Way of Water was complex. It was like a giant data package without any visual distinction.

On it, the director records the lighting, performance, and camera movements he wants. This data is handed over to Weta Digital, the VFX company, which uses algorithms and layers of animation to bring the frame to life.

Cameron doesn't see making Avatar as being like a Pixar animation. 'The actors knew exactly what they were doing. It was just translating from regular images to 3D CGI with all the AI ​​stuff in there ,' the director says.

Completed with VFX, James Cameron still requested underwater filming. (Photo: 20th Century).

He doesn't think his approach is special, as it requires a huge budget. 'They (other directors) would go crazy if they tried to do it. If it doesn't make the highest-grossing film in history, that's the last thing I want to do ,' James Cameron told QG.

The New York Times reported that Weta Digital spent 18.5 petabytes (1 petabyte equals 1,024 TB) of data to create the film's visual effects. The team's biggest challenges were recreating the flow of water, the wetness of the Na'Vi's blue skin, and the fluid resistance of swimming.

All the liquid in the film was a CGI effect. However, the director insisted on filming underwater. The production company had to build a 90,000 gallon water tank to accommodate his request.

James Cameron is also famous for his meticulousness and perfectionism. The article on QG revealed that the director checked up to the 405th version of an effects scene. That is the reason why Avatar: The Way of Water became one of the most expensive films to produce.

This is also the biggest project Weta Digital has ever done. The list of films they have participated in includes all the monuments of the film industry such as The Lord of the Rings series, Marvel series, DC, Alita.