The Link - Swords to Spyplanes - Chinese Assassin

‘Photo Re-enactment’ is the name we’ve given to this approach to storytelling. Specially-shot stills of actors, props and locations are combined in to separate layers in After Effects to create a 2.5D effect. We add camera moves with depth of field effects, then lighting and grading effects, smoke, dust and the occasional blood spatter to create a semi 3D effect – sometimes referred to as 2.5D.

‘The Link’ looks at the connections between scientific and technological developments through time. This animation shows how the newly developed Chinese Long sword helped the Qin Dynasty unify China. Almost 30 similar sequences were produced for the series. Actors and props were shot in a studio, sometimes against greenscreen. Backgrounds were either created in CGI or composed from specially shot interiors / exteriors.

Use the search button by entering The Link to find other examples. Also see ‘Gunslingers’

The Link is a series produced by Lion TV in London for the US National Geographic Channel.