VFX BREAKDOWN OUR OCEANS
We explore how Moonraker VFX brought invisible forces to life in Netflix’s Barack Obama -narrated documentary Our Oceans
B ristol’s Moonraker VFX was recently involved in a Netflix project that broke new ground, bringing the invisible forces of the global ocean current to our screens for the very first time. Our Oceans , narrated by Barack Obama, blends scientific storytelling and visual effects to unravel the secrets of our many interconnected oceans, demonstrating how what occurs in one can affect them all – and, in turn, all life on the planet. STORYTELLING WITH SCIENCE Each episode in the series focuses on a different ocean, examining its place in the global system and how it supports
local life. It was important to give each ocean its own personality by visualising nuances in how the currents move and interact with the land. Moonraker built independent simulations for each ocean, styled in alignment with the overall brief from Wild Space Productions. Look development began back in 2022, drawing on NASA’s datasets of currents and meetings with oceanographers. To visualise the global ocean current system, the team experimented with different approaches, finally settling on a visual that could give a sense of delicate balance, illustrate temperature differentials and show exactly how the current system moves around the world – changing as it does.
Another important part of the process was how the cameras moved around and filmed the Earth. “We were asked to create dynamic, rollercoaster-type cameras to shoot across the surface of the earth, ascending and descending almost like a racer drone,” says Olly Hagar, head of 2D at Moonraker VFX. “So we needed to create a custom camera rig in 3D so that we could respond to the client’s requests quickly and efficiently.” UNDER THE SURFACE Behind the ethereal aesthetic of the global ocean current is a versatile Earth asset that can be modified to suit a multitude of looks and uses. “We have
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