2012 Limo Scene: Sway Studio’s Drive-A-Tron is a Step Ahead of Destruction

CULVER CITY, CA, November 11, 2009 – Friday the 13th has a built-in terror factor, but this weekend we get an extra dose in the form of “2012,” the new apocalyptic sci-fi thriller from Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow). In the film, a cataclysmic event spins the world into chaos. Contributing to that chaos is SWAY Studio, the visual effects firm responsible for the already-famous scene in which the film’s hero, Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) races through Los Angeles as the city crumbles beneath the wheels of the limousine he’s driving.

It is an astounding sequence, one that somehow distinguishes itself amidst 158 minutes of non-stop, jaw-dropping action and effects.

“2012” co-producers, Unchartered Territory, approached SWAY Studio after hearing about the company’s proprietary Drive-A-Tron™ technology. “Given the nature of this sequence, live action wasn’t an option,” explains SWAY’s Founder/Creative Director Mark Glaser, “so the work was bid out in traditional animation, as well as using the Drive-A-Tron™.”

Developed over several years and used in countless car commercials (including the new Lexus Hybrid campaign), SWAY Studio’s Drive-a-Tron™ software simulates the physics of cars in full 3D, taking into account, not only the physical properties of the car body, but also the engine, suspension, and even the dynamic deformations of the tires riding over rough terrain. This all happens in real time, with the artist literally in the driver’s seat. The result possesses all of the bumps and wobbles of a real car in motion, which would take a traditional animator days on end to reproduce convincingly, if ever. In short, this technology allowed Emmerich to exercise his vision in terms of what cars do, instead of what animators can do.

Time was a factor on “2012,” and SWAY Studio was able to work within those constraints, thanks in part to the Drive-A-Tron™. For example, a ten-second shot takes three days to animate. With the Drive-A-Tron™, however, “A ten-second shot takes ten seconds to simulate,” Glaser says, “so many takes can be done in a short amount of time.” Additionally, the risks and costs of getting a crew out to shoot real cars was eliminated, as was the guesswork and time associated with traditionally animating cars.

Anyone familiar with Emmerich’s films knows that he is determined to outdo himself with each new effort. As remarkable as SWAY’s work had been on previous projects, “2012” presented unique challenges to Glaser’s team. “Before ‘2012,’ we had never simulated a car driving over moving terrain,” Glaser notes. “The interesting thing about the Drive-A-Tron™, though, is that the software was uniquely designed to be expandable, so its options are really limitless. Once approached to do the work, we wrote new code to make the road interact with the physics of the car.”

SWAY Studio is the only company worldwide using this cutting-edge technology.

To view the official ”2012″ trailer, click here.

About SWAY Studio
SWAY Studio is among the premier animation, effects, and design studios in North America. Dedicated to advancing the artistry of visual content while pursuing fresh creative ideas across multiple media platforms, SWAY’s world-class creatives use cutting-edge, innovative technology to produce unforgettable imagery.

For more information, visit www.swaystudio.com

VFX: SWAY Studio
Creative Director: Mark Glaser
VFX Artist: Robert Glazer
Producer: Aaron Abt
Artist: Cesar Chavez
General Manager: Stephanie Heinson