"On this one we really leveraged our technology to create something new. Using Fabric Engine, we developed a set of tools that allowed artists to create a whole chameleon worth of scales. They would create scales by generating a particle flow over the surface. We took this artistically-generated particle distribution and built a computational geometry system on top of it. This system could generate each scale as a unique interlocking 3D shape for a hyper-realistic result.
The other really cool technique was using Nuke to remap the textures quickly without a full render in Arnold. This was awesome as we were able to quickly iterate until the camouflage gags worked. By creating a whole new set of tools we were able to execute a cinematic and deeply human hero who falls on his face a few times before getting to the girl of all our dreams. The result is a relatable, lovable short film about a classic anti-hero."
-Eben Means, Director