Breaking Down The Breakdown - House of the Dragon - Moondancer & Silverwing

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The world of Westeros is one that holds a particular meaning for Rodeo FX, as it was with Game of Thrones that our work on Episodics started. So we couldn't be more excited to work on HBO's second season of House of the Dragon, this time going even beyond breathtaking environments with he creation and animation of three iconic dragons: Vermax, Moondancer, and Silverwing. While Vermax and Moondancer made their first appearances in season 1, Silverwing was introduced as a brand new, awe-inspiring creature, one of the largest dragons in Westeros.

Each dragon was meticulously crafted to reflect distinct personalities that were evident in their respective sequences. Moondancer, for instance, showcased a more aggressive and almost 'punk-like' demeanor, especially in the thrilling chase sequence from episode 3. In contrast, Silverwing exuded a noble and composed presence, yet remained terrifying, particularly during the tense scene where Ulf encounters the dragon in a dark cave.

Given the lack of real-life references for dragons, the Rodeo FX team embarked on extensive research, studying bats, Komodo dragons, and other reptiles to create creatures that felt larger than life. Each dragon was designed with a complete set of characteristics, including mood, personality, size, weight, and even cruising flight speed, ensuring they felt like true inhabitants of Westeros.

The flying sequences were a seamless blend of on-set footage, where actors rode on a buck, and the impeccable CG assets developed by Rodeo FX. A particular challenge was evoking the massive scale of Silverwing, especially during Ulf's first encounter with the dragon deep beneath the Dragon Pit. This was achieved through carefully placed lighting and intricate animation, which highlighted Silverwing's imposing presence as it emerged from the darkness.

In addition to the dragons, Rodeo FX also developed multiple key locations for the season, including the iconic Winterfell, the towering Ice Wall—last seen being destroyed by the team in season 7—and King’s Landing, with its monumental landmarks like the Dragon Pit, the High Sept, and the Red Keep.
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I just love how different each dragon looks. They're instantly recognizeable when you see them on screen. Also interesting to learn that multiple VFX houses work on different dragons for the show.

EmileVinesh
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more house of the dragon Breaking Down The Breakdown. this is so fun

blindspotj
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I really don't mind if you guys make even more "Breaking Down The Breakdown", perhaps a whole documentary, for this is gold! I watched all the behind the scenes from every episode of HotD S02, and I missed details like these about the VFX approach on the dragons, so for me, an animator in the making, that's wonderful to see this content. Amazing job as usual, hope to see you guys toying with Silverwing next season.

MateusSilva-fmzc
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Beautiful work! I remember watching this seasons and thinking "those are damn good looking dragons".

laeianimation
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You've already nailed the last digit and gone past it. Cheers and high five ! 🙌🏼💯

behrampatel
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great content! Amazing the work that is need in order to achieve perfection! Well produced and edited !

lukout
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4:12
Ayo that's Diablos' roar

ShiniesoftheGanders
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I like how they teased a 3rd dragon they didn't talk about

jeremystormborn
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wait a second... the Dragons aren't real?!

VISENYA