Battle for North America - Blender Graphics

This is a compilation of graphics I created for my documentary The Battle for North America, made by Ballista Media for the BBC.

This was the first documentary I've made where I've created many of the graphics myself using the free open-source software Blender.

This package enabled me to create broadcast quality graphics for essentially zero cost, using free software and a standard PC. Many of the graphics I created whilst in the edit, enabling me to make something and slot it straight into the programme and make changes there and then.

This way of doing things is not only cost effective, it gives you huge creative freedom and flexibility. Blender is also ideal for creating pre-viz graphics and testing out new ideas. I think it represents a fantastic new tool for programme makers. You can download the software at http://www.blender.org

Watch the full programme on BBC 2 at 9pm on 16th March 2010.

See the Trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tco7WBQuqw

Music by Jake Parker.

Maps from David Rumsey http://www.davidrumsey.com/

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• quebec
• BBC
• blender
• 3d
• graphics
• dan
• snow
• battle

[AbedeuS]

as a completely random question... Was the circle drawing done on the globe in blender or afterwards? (freakish like that sry)

[nathankw]

@AbedeuS It was all done in blender.

[nathankw]

@OnlyFennek I created a single large plane and gave it a reflective material. I set this to render the reflections on a seperate layer. In the comp nodes I added a ripple effect to this layer and used a matte so it only appeared in the puddles.

Hope that helps.

[veggiet2009]

Awesome stuff dude, loved the gunshot, please tell me you used the new smoke simulator? :D

[nathankw]

Actually that was real smoke (filmed with a slowmo camera) against greenscreen. I used blender to composite onto a suitable background. Actually quite a difficult keying job - the source material was very compressed and the smoke was translucent. Shows what the composite nodes are capable of.

[nathankw]

All blender internal. The globe shot has depth of field through the comp nodes. The chromakey shots just use the blender comp function.

[effetagroove]

very nice work!

muy lindo todo, muchas felicitaciones y exitos!

[wagawagawoo]

WOW this is weird. I rarely watch TV and even more infrequently do I watch documentaries, BUT I HAPPENED TO WATCH THIS?! Blender in the homes of people all over Britain!

[AlfMartin001]

Very nice work!:)

[super3boy]

Great to see you guys are doing more stuff with Blender. I remember when you did a small segment on it a few years ago(even mentioned me in it). Keep up the good work!

[ysvry]

great work , I like the keep it simple aproach.

[efrenirvana]

is there any where I can get the documentary on dvd??

Thank you

[OnlyFennek]

Would you share how you made the soldiers reflect in the water, have tried to make a similar effect... but couldn't do it without rendering the reflective surface too.