Project Spotlights: Montage Inc.

Working on video productions many high-profile brands such as Panasonic Corporation, Japanese-based studio Montage Inc. uses all the power of LightWave 3D to produce stunning installations. Thanks to their amazing talent, Panasonic’s installations were honored for “Best Storytelling” in the competition that selects the best exhibitions of Milano Design Week 2017 and "People's Choice Award" at the Milano Design Award 2016. Go behind the scenes and see how LightWave 3D enabled them to create these stunning installations.

"Electronics Meets Crafts:"
Milano Design Award 2017 Winner – “Best Storytelling”

"KUKAN - The Invention of Space"
Milano Design Award 2016 Winner – “People's Choice Award”

On April 2017, Panasonic Corporation's installation “Electronics Meets Crafts:” -- introduced at the Milano Design Award 2017 -- was honored for Best Storytelling in the competition that selects the best exhibitions of Milano Design Week 2017. Combining visual special installations and 3D animations projection, this installation “Electronics Meets Crafts” promotes the “Future Craft” philosophy, which is inherent in all Panasonic products. Combining fog, mist, vibration speakers and ultrasonic machines, the video installation was projected on a screen made of “Nishijin Ori”, a Japanese traditional textile. Bringing a certain perspective of Nature and the four seasons, visitors had the chance to use their imagination to experience their own vision of Nature.

Using the powerful modeling, animation, rigging, effects and rendering tools built into LightWave 3D, the team was able to create this stunning animated project. Every function of LightWave 3D was very important for this project but if they had to choose, Instances was one of the most revolutionary function. Instances are super-fast, easy to use, the team was able to create and animate the over 300 thousand polygons of a growing bamboo forest.

Example of lighting effects and mood for the “Sakura” scene in LightWave 3D

Preview of “Karesansui” scene in Layout

Using LightWave Instances, the team was able to create and animate the over 300 thousand polygons of a growing bamboo forest. Rendered with LightWave and Affect Effects.

"KUKAN - The Invention of Space"
Milano Design Award 2016 Winner – “People's Choice Award”

Using LightWave 3D as their tool of choice, Montage Inc. continues to produce lovely and poetic installations. In 2016, Panasonic Corporation's installation “KUKAN – The Invention of Space” was awarded the "People's Choice Award" at the Milano Design Award 2016.

Following the theme of Innovation, the installation features one hundred forty 55-inch screens arranged into seven pillars that represent seven dimensions. “KUKAN – The Invention of Space” combines visual special installations and 3D animations that highlight Japan's unique view of the world and the beauty of its nature, while also combining the traditional culture and Japanese myths with state-of-the-art technology to bring to life a brand-new experience.

Since the video installation was projected into seven pillars, the main challenge was always to keep in mind the final render. Thanks to LightWave 3D and its ease of use, the team was able to preview each scene and double check the consistence and harmony of the animated project.
LightWave 3D offers the power to produce high-end results and thanks to the active LightWave 3D community, the team was able to boost creativity by using several unique tools and plugins.

Animated scene using Bullets dynamics. Using Parts Bodies really helped keeping the scene complexity low, despite the presence of many items.

This animation uses both commercial and hand modeled objects created in Modeler.

To be able to animate models, the team performed 3D photogrammetry scans using 80 cameras in a 360 ° space.

Learn More about Montage Inc.:
Website: www.montage.co.jp
Facebook: montage.co