In 2021, I was hired as a VFX artist to work on Unsolved Histories, an animated presentation for Paramount+, created and written by Joe Mande, and directed by Arthur Jones.

I designed and animated “The Kinetic Code,” a time machine that the show is based around, including:

• The Kinetic Code as it appears in the traditional 2D-animated world: a glowing orb and array of floating touchscreens.

• The Lobby, a liminal space where the traveler chooses their destination: a 3D domed environment with mirrored floor, giant interior projections, and movable cameras.

• Transitions to represent each jump through time: a 3D split-flap-display effect.

3D VFX SUPERCUT

My role: designing, creating, and lighting the required 3D models; producing a custom 3D-animation pipeline to create assets suitable for final composition (3D effects over 2D backgrounds, 2D characters inside 3D models, 2D animations projected onto curved 3D screens, etc); writing a handbook for the time machine that detailed its creation backstory and pseudo-science operating logic; final clean-up animation for all Kinetic Code sequences based on roughs and storyboards.

Created with Unity, Blender, C#.

3D VFX BEHIND THE SCENES

A video showing how the pilot’s final scene looks from outside The Lobby 3D model, with stand-in Colby imposter, used to key 2D-character animation during the final composite:

FULL UNSOLVED HISTORIES NETWORK PILOT PRESENTATION

The plot of Unsolved Histories is centered around a DNA time machine named “The Kinetic Code” that allows a traveler to briefly take over and inhabit the body of any predecessor in their genetic bloodline.

The inventor of the Code, Dr. Juwon Park, has yet to reveal her discovery to the world, but plans to use it for Ethical Historical Correction — tiny adjustments to the past that would alter the arc of humankind in a positive way.

After finding her own bloodline offers scant access to pivotal points in history, the answer to her problem comes crashing into the Las Vegas hotel room where her and her assistant, Evette, are currently staying for a technology conference.

Colby, a clout-obsessed doofus and part-time stripper, mistakes the Code for a virtual-reality sex portal, inadvertently revealing that his bloodline offers the type of privileged access that Juwon needs to put humanity back on track.

CREDITS

Beck Bennett as Colby
Greta Lee as Juwon
Megalyn Echikunwoke as Evette

Unsolved Histories
© 2021 CBS Studios, Party Over Here Productions & 219 Productions

An animated presentation for Paramount+

219 Productions
Katie Krentz, Joe Barrasas, Micheal Lucks

Party Over Here Productions
Ali Bell, Bre Andrade, Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone

CBS Studios
Alec Botnick

Executive Producers
Katie Krentz, Ali Bell

Executive Producers
Joe Mande, Arthur Jones

Creator and Writer
Joe Mande

Director
Arthur Jones

Producer
Lee Supercinski

Lead Animator
Lizz Hickey

Animators
Ciara Bresnahan, Arthur Jones, Ash McGivern, Zoe Panageas

Storyboards
Arthur Jones, Sam Lane, Jesse Moynihan

Character Designs
Arthur Jones, Alen Esmaelian

VFX Artist
Russell Quinn

SFX and Mix
Tess Fournier, Boom Box Post

Compositor
Arthur Jones

Composer
Emeen Zarookian

Editor
Chris Rogers

Background Artists
Erin Althea, Arthur Jones