Transformers 3D Oscar Reel
February 7th, 2012

Over at michaelbay.com someone just posted a 10 minute reel of various FX for the third Transformers film. I wish there was some before and after stuff but there is no denying the amount of impressive work that went into it! And remember everything was done in stereo... There might be spoilers so if you have not seen it be warned. There are robots!

BTW, I just moved this past weekend and sucked a little bit of my life away but we're almost unpacked hoping to get back in gear this week!

Andrew Kramer
POSTED:
13 years ago
94 Comments
Arley Daza
13 years ago
Many thanks for this video!... I love it!... FX in HD!
13 years ago
Awesome video! I can't remember seeing a video with more speciel effects than this!
Pwadura
13 years ago
hey man i need a tutorial on how to make a massive music video and more detailed then supanova tut please
13 years ago
I love Transformers! Very cool reel, thanks for sharing!
13 years ago
Michael Bay a.k.a. Captain Overkill. Great special effects but the movies ... anyway, since I'm on a AE blog, great work, Bay!
Álvaro
13 years ago
How is possible this movie didn`t win the oscar for fx???
Azumuth
13 years ago
For good or ill, Bay is the soul of a new machine, the poet of post-human cinema, the CEO of Hollywood's military-entertainment complex.
Marveling at its grotesque gigantism doesn't make this two-and-a-half-hour-long movie any less dull.
Lifein3D
13 years ago
http://www.legend3d.com/film/transformers-dark-moon

Just sayin...
myufka
13 years ago
i think you aren't honest Andrew...you moved 'coz you destroy your house!! really dangerous works in here...
take care
Chris
13 years ago
Thanks for sharing, and was fun movie visually. @2:36, they totally ripped off the Protoss Carrier, from Blizzard game Starcaft. Michael Bay must be a fan lol
13 years ago
Hey Andrew, is it just me or you seem a little touchy about your moving. Here are some suggestions on where you can settle: Afghanistan, Iraq or maybe even here in Nigeria, there's a lot of BLOWING UP going on!
Jonathan
13 years ago
Hahaha Andrew always cracking me up. DE-CEPT-I-CONS okay! Not dementors... I thought I would say as a person who has never touched 3d animation before, the last part of that real looked really unrealistic at 09:31 . But I mean I am not capable of anything near that standard and so much work goes into that stuff. Will it ever look truly "realistic" Andrew?
sam
13 years ago
Dear VideoCopilot.net

In the Transformers Moives, they use lot of Optical flares, i?m asking my self, did the Movie maker use The OF from Videocopilot?, if they didn?t they are suck, cuz, OF from VideoCopilot are so cool, they need to use in HOLLYWOODS,

greetz SAM
from Germany
Alex
13 years ago
first we take manhattan, then we take berlin
13 years ago
thanks for sharing. will u make a tute form dis ?
andi
13 years ago
It's an impressive amount of work, there's tons of things going on, and has a lot of the cool factor. But it didn't ever look realistic, and it was quite boring to sit through 10 minutes of it.

I think it would be better if they went full CGI, so you can take it in like a cartoon. The parts where they tried to mix real actors in looked fake to the point of distraction. Like an old fashioned monster movie where you can't help but notice how bad things look, rather than concentrating on the movie. Remove the few bits of real footage and it would all blend together much nicer.
Cava
13 years ago
The only good things of TF3. Thanks for sharing.
xandercorp
13 years ago
Michael Bay, short for helicopters, fire arms and explosions ! I feel you're spamming this transformers thing a bit Andrew, you shouldn't commercialize so much. Especially when the transformers series is crap, I mean it's cinematic trash, the only thing lovely about the movies are the special effects, which are indeed jaw dropping, but even so, good special effects a good movie do NOT make.
Retardo
13 years ago
What a waste of money. Lots of work, but in no way realistic or clear in terms of action. It's just stuff, stuff and more stuff. Jurassic Park remains the first and also last movie with convincing CGI.
jesher jed arquisola
13 years ago
hi andrew,
i'm inviting you to visit the philippines
especially palawan,
it's great out here.

your fan,
jed

p.s.: thanx for the tutorials you posted
genobambino
13 years ago
Am I the only one who thinks this stuff is overwrought?

The robots have the same level of detail in wide shots as in closeups. Too much depth of field, too many gleams and flares flying around, too much of a good thing. It looks like a video game.
Andrew
13 years ago
What is this about Andrew Kramer moving and teaming up with Bad Robot? I'm totally out of the loop.
VFX-Anomaly
13 years ago
Andrew I'm confused...I moved closer to L.A. and I know BadRobot personally but yet I have never seen you here? You sure you're in L.A. not Valencia or Simi Valley?

Jsut aksinkg,
The rsaeon yuor biarn can raed tihs si bcaeuse the first and last letter are correct, just some fun trivia!
13 years ago
ILM Transformers 3 VFX breakdown with before and after shots: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgoqPd9PeFg
cheneyxu
13 years ago
9:07 come out the blood...lol
13 years ago
Hey dude,

Sounds cool. I hear the moving thing - my wife and I are renting now looking for places to live. Toronto might be one of the few places on Earth more expensive than LA, and it sucks searching.

Good luck, and if you decide to come visit After Effects Toronto, I'm picking up the tab. Like, for everything.

Looking forward to NAB this year too - hope you and Sam come again when I'm not sick in a gross Vegas hotel bed. (sorry MGM - weird things happens in that town, and sleeping in your beds sober is totally weird)

Russ
Søren
13 years ago
Hey,
If you are interested, here is some more broken down stuff from Industrial Light and Magic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgoqPd9PeFg
13 years ago
I love transformers 3, and these shots remind me the biiiiig film
Breezii
13 years ago
so i didnt get to watch this while it was in theaters... its mind blowing!!.. but my gosh! rendering must of took years lol
grim
13 years ago
I heard they did the entire thing in Element 3D.
13 years ago
digital Domain added a new video on their site, about making of Transformers 3 (Darck Of The Moon)! Check it out!)
Jacks Apple
13 years ago
Really nice video. Andrew Krame stikes again. Well done guys.
krishnan
13 years ago
michael bay, steve jablonsky,ilm and andrew kramer my mentors.
13 years ago
Obviously Andrew has moved to the country, in order to avoid those giant killer robots. This is indeed fascinating documentary footage.
13 years ago
They just released a new extended John Carter superbowl trailer with a few of my shots in, I think they used optical flares for the titles. Check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkoshfPWjf4
13 years ago
nice video nice
the VFX inthe transformers movie are so nice
13 years ago
There's some great behind the scenes stuff at ILMVisualFX on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/user/ILMVisualFX
I especially liked this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzQC81Ee4v8&context=C33de2ccADOEgsToPDskK9rk63DJKVVPO_3j4CrW72
Mubeen
13 years ago
Hai kramer thanks for sharing this with me
i am watching your website daily and iam waiting for the up coming tutorials

the VFX inthe transformers movie are so nice
I thing you can do great shot like the transformers movie
iam waiting for that ..........
Faust
13 years ago
Some pretty good effects in there, but I just couldn't watch the whole thing knowing that it came from Transformers.
Rich
13 years ago
I have a question for Kramer... Can i ever do this? Am passionate about this. My 3ds max is awesome buh my aftereffect is sad. Another question... can you do it?
illd
13 years ago
Tutorial please - On the Housemoving
Mario Fornero
13 years ago
This forum is heavily filtered, there's no space for controversial point of view. Every comment here has to have same opinion of moderator. This is not a real forum, too manipulated

why you do this?

Are you afraid of confrontation?

Andrew, so weak personality?

(ok i'm sure you will cancel this post)
Ninjaman
13 years ago
man, this is not youtube, this is a commercial site: they only admit positive comments that lead to increase their business
Jatinder
13 years ago
a lot of work went into the effects, the film still sucks.
Eric
13 years ago
He means stereoscopic 3D
Eric
13 years ago
Wow! The lighting on everything CG looks so freaking amazing!
BTW Congrats Andrew on your move! I hope everything went smooth. May this bring you plenty of work and good steady pay!
Rusty Shackleford
13 years ago
Hey I just wanted to share that you guys are getting a lot of love over at Motionworks, this is what John Dickenson had to say when asked about the best AE products: "Good question, there always seems to be at least one ?hot? effect? It?s probably Optical Flares right now and most likely will be Video Copilot?s new Element 3D effect releasing soon."

Boom! It's exciting to see you guys rocking the VFX industry, keep it up!
Wimp
13 years ago
What do you mean by "shot in stereo"? :S
Daniel
13 years ago
He means real 3D STEREO shooting....
David
13 years ago
It was a 3D Film.
Wimp
13 years ago
Aha, duh. Didnt see the 3d version.
13 years ago
nice video, thnx for sharing
13 years ago
He's right you know... The Decepticons always get the good shit!
13 years ago
Those darn Dementors!
Dwaine
13 years ago
That is a god like movie...true epicness!
Aarons
13 years ago
Andrew, it'll be really nice if you could have a tutorial to give us an idea how graphics like this can be done.. Don't have to be a long tutorial, just a short one so as to give us an idea.. Perhaps in 3ds Max.. Heard all 3 sequels of transformers was done in MAX.. Thanks..
Chris
13 years ago
Its not all about special effects! Its about quality of story telling. the entire transformers series are totally crap.
Adrian
13 years ago
totally agree with your opinion... silly movie for children
Mukhtar Mahdee
13 years ago
Hi Andrew! You could create the 3D wolves, like in the film "Twilight"?
Alex Thomas
13 years ago
I really hope you are not serious
Rich
13 years ago
i think you can be able to do that if you learn 3ds max + vray fur and hair . etc.
Peky
13 years ago
L.A. maybe? Thanks for everything.
Khari
13 years ago
where did you move?? why?
David
13 years ago
I love this thread. So now it seems your fans need to know:

1. Why are you moving?
2. Where are you moving to?
3. How much does your new home cost?

So if we can now just have copies of your latest bank statements and your companies annual reports I think we'll have enough personal details for the month of January
:p
lol
13 years ago
^ lol nice!
13 years ago
I moved a little closer to LA where I have been doing work for Bad Robot. Not moving the Video Copilot office so nothing changing there.
13 years ago
LOL! Spot on!
Alec
13 years ago
Definitely seeing some Action Essentials...I mean Action Movie Essentials..the first one...and maybe some Real Clouds and footage from the Series One DVD.
EdrisCG
13 years ago
Very good! thanks for sharing
jkmalisa
13 years ago
Interesting Question!

Do you guys reckon the slow mo effect of the hook which Sam shoots at Starscream's eye was done the same way Mr.Kramer did The Bullet (with a 3D camera and pictures)?

If not - how do you guys think that's done.
Curious effect, isnt it?
wasams
13 years ago
I watched an interview with ILM and, apparently, for some of the more complicated transformers a single frame could take upto 72hrs to render! Nuts. Was that Sam in one of those glide suits jumping out the chopper? If not why not?
All the best in your new place AK!
Rishi
13 years ago
thanks mate... thanks for sharing
Nick the Greek
13 years ago
Well. I didn't find them great.
Of course there is a lot of work. Thousands and thousands of hours. And money, and processing power.

But there are many many problems.

Is there anyone here who thinks that at 1:30+ the guy who fells out of the car is color corrected properly?
And the motion when the robot is grabbing him. Totally unrealistic.

etc. etc.

Too much work and money for sure but the final product isn't that good.
Mark
13 years ago
Waiting for new tutorial, Can't wait to learn new things and JOKES! haha
13 years ago
I hope you are making a tutorial on this.
David
13 years ago
There are so many scenes in just a small clip like this... it takes hours to make just one scene... crazy amounts of time go into it... BUT IT IS SOOOO WORTH IT!!!
Wayne
13 years ago
Doesnt matter how much CGI they put inside
a bad movie stays bad, even with state-of-the-art VFX
Eye Props
13 years ago
Way good FX, but I agree... The action sequences are way to hard to digest... No humans could live through the building scene. A waste of good resources if you ask me.
Throck
13 years ago
Vimeo doesn't do it justice. Gotta see this on the big screen if you want the full effect.
Tony
13 years ago
Did you move in to a million dollar mansion. Now that you a star and all.
Jack H
13 years ago
Dude... Mansions cost a LOT more than a million dollars... I found on Yahoo-answers that in south Florida they are is anywhere from 2 million to 17 million dollars. An average house is around 300,000 dollars.
Just saying.
(Sorry I ruined your"joke")
13 years ago
Well to be clear, we are actually renting a house until we figure out what area we want to settle down in.
John
13 years ago
@Jack I think south Florida's housing market is a bit irrelevant to Andrew's location haha
13 years ago
Cheer up with the moving, Andrew. If you need some help with the dammed boxes, tell me so. I still have non-opened boxes from two or three movings ago...

And congratulations for your collaboration with Bad Robot. I've ever liked the work this guys make in TV series (not as much for big screen). New intro for Fringe, maybe? You did a good work with that, but perhaps it's time for a new one...

Oh, and by the way. Maybe you can help me to find out the truth about this: when I firts saw some Alcatraz trailers in the Internet, the provisional "intro" sequence (with the title over the island, with the reflection of the word on the water) made me think "Yeah, this is Andrew Kramer's, for sure". But then, in the actual final version of the intro for the TV series, the sequence is different. The previous one was much better. The first version was yours, righ? I think I can recognize your style when I watch it...

Please, solve my doubts! And, as always, excuse my poor level of English, of course.
13 years ago
And by the way, Andrew: next time you meet JJ Abrams, tell him I love his work too. You have some serious friends, man.
Chris Francis
13 years ago
andrew! tell me also when ur moving i will help carry the boxes and your things also....
TylerMayfield
13 years ago
Settle in the northwest. Portland or Seattle. Oregon trail status. You wont be disappointed
13 years ago
awesome...oohhh.Thanks this will help on increase my knowledge on vfx
tornato7
13 years ago
You gonna make a tutorial for this?
Leon
13 years ago
I loved the movie but one thing bothered me. In the beginning of the clip there where sam touches bumblebees face... Sams hand turns black. When I first seen it on the dvd copy i thought well they will fix that in the bluray 3d release... .NOPE I'm sorry but thats a huge mistake that shouldn't of been over looked.
El Ricko de la Toxiko
13 years ago
pff Total fake, they used real robots.
13 years ago
good, i tried doing something like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t_eiVvbe38
SUNDEVIL
13 years ago
Hopefully this series gets remade soon. Leave out Bay and the writers... Make an actual movie about robots fighting robots...
tc123
13 years ago
hey andrew i think a while back you were going to introduce us to some stereo 3d work... is this still on the cards?
Kai
13 years ago
Hugo is the favorite, but hope it wins, then VC can claim an Oscar Winning VFX plug-in.
Good Luck
13 years ago
Hi
I Hope This Moved Being made ??to make A more attractive Tutorial
Hernan
13 years ago
how about those OF that they used? Andrew can you please updates on how the OF is going for Nuke we havent heard anything in a while ... it would be nice if you can tell us how that goes ... thank you.
ehsan
13 years ago
video copilot , Optical Flares & transformers !!!...
Ben
13 years ago
It would be really awesome if you did a video tour of your new house.
Matt
13 years ago
The movie didn't blow me away like the original, but you still can't deny that the CG work in the movie is second to none. Who needs a story line when there are huge exploding robots?!?
creativity
13 years ago
Who needs a movie with exploding robots if the demo of the effects is officially published for free??

Who needs a brain if a movie has no storyline??

WHAT THE HELL!!!! Effect demos aren't movies: theyre >showing, not >telling a story.
13 years ago
I even dragged my Dad to the cinema to see this since the effects where just so good. Not 100% sure he was as impressed as I was, but whatever.

But the main reason for my post, are you trying to use a teeny, tiny thing like moving home as an excuse to not post the Kramerican Airline tutorial already Mr Kramer? :O
David
13 years ago
Crazy.... these movies must take so much time for each scene!
personalfx
13 years ago
Unpack Element 1st! then sell it to us!
13 years ago
thanks 4 share .......
Jono
13 years ago
Are any of those Optical Flares? I remember the article where they gave you a shout out?
creativity
13 years ago
I'm sure they used optical flares. Not for all the lensflares but a few.

In most cases the lens flares didn't need to be stereo 3d, but probably in a few cases they did them in 3d; So as optical flares only got 2d lens flares I guess they created the 3d lens flares in another software.
[[Not sure, but I think 3d effect would be a lens flare crossing 3d objects or the borders of the camera.]]
ROV
13 years ago
Thank you so much for putting your time and effort to help us learn all these quality effects and helpful tips and techniques with your tutorials. Thanks to them I was able to increase my knowledge on after effects!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk4o2o1vQaY&listL0B6C5AE7831D48AC
Diego
13 years ago
You should call it better spam productions.
Thootje
13 years ago
Over at fxguide.com I found this:
http://www.fxguide.com/quicktakes/how-ilm-destroyed-chicago/

Other videos on the fx are on fxguide.com as well. Just type transformers in the search box and check the results. There's even a guy from ILM who shows off how he did a fx shot in nuke for transformers 2.

Pretty awesome movies, and even better effects. No story though.
13 years ago
Very good 3D effects!!!!
13 years ago
Hey andrew very good short video!!!!!
Tranformers 3D effects created by ilm (INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC)
Jonathan
13 years ago
Not just ILM. Quite a few studios worked on this. Now generally with big budget films at least eight visual effects studios work on a movie.
Owen
13 years ago
Wow, you making a tutorial on this
David
13 years ago
That would be epic! (and long)
Jules Kelly
13 years ago
i wish it will...
13 years ago
I love those special effects, especially now I know ho much work goes into it.
Where did you move to Andrew? Building a bigger studio too?
AcidRave
13 years ago
can you give us a video tour
bolt
13 years ago
..... oooh! that was nice! as a person who does 3D work... this is insanity!! I LIKE IT!!
Owen
13 years ago
As a person really in to VFX the 3D integration is amazing!
Jack
13 years ago
Hope your move was good with no problems
13 years ago
So awesome, thanks for sharing.
13 years ago
budget, budget, budget!
13 years ago
Totally awesome, these guys are so skilled!!!!
13 years ago
I've seen nobody have said anything about it, so... I'll do.

Maybe some of you may remember that some Transformers 3 footage was taken from The Island, including some VFX (then modified). It's no reason for underestimate Transformers 3, it's a great movie. I watched it in 3D, in the super-mega-big IMAX of Bangkok last summer, and it was one of my best video-experience of my life.

But, again, some footage was taken from The Island. Let's watch it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7kcqB3thJM
ChuckmaNorris
13 years ago
@CRoblex 1) Your English is bad but I will let that slide. 2) "Some footage" you say? is really only just 2 scenes. Reason being is that an extra was injured and that scene couldn't be used thus had to be replaced with The Island footage. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1308437/Transformers-3-accident-Stuntwoman-Gabriella-Cedillo-suffers-head-injuries.html
3) You don't need to over emphasis when describing IMAX. I am sure most people would know by now what IMAX is