December 2023 – Emmy nominated boutique visual effects studio Rocket Science VFX (RSVFX) creates complex fluid simulations and fx to empower the lead character, Marie Moreau, and other young Superheros in GEN V, Amazon’s BOYS universe spinoff.
The RSVFX team, lead by VFX Supervisor Adam Jewett and VFX Producer Florent Villegas was brought on to develop and execute Marie’s hemokinetic superpower – the ability to psychically manipulate blood. Jordan’s blast, tiny Emma and additional supporting visual effects were also provided with over 250 shots delivered.
“Our task was to make her power look rigid enough to feel contained and be used as a weapon, while fluid enough to feel like real blood.” Adam Jewett, VFX Supervisor. “Keeping a balance of rigidness and liquidity simultaneously required a lot of tweaking to work cohesively.”
Marie’s power development needed to look consistent. From the start of realizing her power as a simplified simulation, to the crescendo in the final scene of the season, becoming more complex, emotional and responsive. From octopus tentacles to snake-like shapes and knife shards, the RSVFX team brought her power to life, while tackling the challenge of simulating liquid turning into rigid elements in seconds.
Gen V storyline focuses on hormonal supe-students being confronted with brutal reality of Vought. RSVFX contributed to developing Jordan Li’s FX blast throughout the season and Sam’s lethal punch with CG slimy blood. Janine’s broken jaw sequence was a standout, with the team leaning on medical reference to realize the CG mandibular fracture accurately.
Carrying on the fully CG blood and head/body explosion work from THE BOYS, RSVFX continues to shine with CG blood and gore to sell the gruesome reality of God U and its students, including a scene with Congresswoman Neuman and Dr. Cardosa in the parking lot and mouth-bomb that finished one of The Woods fugitive and God U’s Social Media Manager, Jeff.
The RSVFX Team animated in Maya, used Houdini for FX simulations and rendered in Houdini using Arnold.
All work was completed under the leadership of the GEN V Production VFX team; Karen Heston, VFX Supervisor, VFX Producer Tina Hynous, VFX Lead Producer Sean Tompkins and THE BOYS, Co-Producer and VFX Supervisor, Stephan Fleet.
“Gen V was a bloody blast, literally. Thank you to Stephan Fleet, Karen Heston, Sean Tompkins, Tina Hynous, Eric Kripke, Evan Goldberg, Craig Rosenberg, Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas, Sony, and Amazon Prime. We are extremely grateful to be part of THE BOYS family and look forward to the next one.” Anthony Paterson, CEO / Executive VFX Supervisor.
Gen V is an American superhero television series, developed by Craig Rosenberg, Evan Goldberg, and Eric Kripke, serving as a spin-off of THE BOYS and based on THE BOYS comic book story arc “We Gotta Go Now” by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The series serves as the third entry in THE BOYS franchise. The series, set concurrently with the fourth season of THE BOYS, premiered on Amazon Prime Video on September 29, 2023. In October 2023, the series was renewed for a second season.
Watch RSVFX work in GEN V on Amazon Prime now.