In a recent discussion, VFX supervisor Sheldon Stopsack and animation supervisor Kevin Estey provided an engaging look behind the scenes of the much-anticipated 'Minecraft' movie. They shared that while Wt Workshop only undertook initial work on the character of the chicken jockey, their department was deeply involved in designing the character for the vast majority of the film's cast. Stopsack emphasized, Our department was involved in the character design for the vast majority of all characters, and the chicken jockey was one of them.

Both Stopsack and Estey were thrilled to be present during the motion-capture performance sessions at Wt, where renowned actor Jared Hess collaborated closely with actors to create the digital characters. We were fortunate enough to be a small group watching them piece together the motion capture for it on our mocap stage here, Estey recounted. There was a lot of laughter in seeing Jared work through with the stunt performers and actors on what would be happening on the digital side of that sequence. This fun-filled atmosphere was apparent, especially since they had only filmed the live-action segments with actors like Dwayne Johnson and Jason Momoa just weeks before the motion-capture sessions took place.

Estey further elaborated on the creative process involved in bringing the adorable yet spooky baby zombie character to life. The movements of the baby zombie were meticulously mapped out by one of their smaller-statured stunt performers, who rode on what basically amounted to a seesaw horse with wheels on it around the stage. To ensure safety during their lively performancesjumping off, slamming into, and head-butting the horseEstey described how the apparatus was padded. It was quite fun to see them play it out, he said. One of the most entertaining moments that didnt make the film was Jared loving the idea of the baby zombie being up on the ropes, doing a big dance routine.

Stopsack also mentioned that the motion capture sessions served as a playful exploration of themes present in the movie. He noted, Part of the mocap was a little bit the theme of the moviemany things were improvised, and there was a lot of exploration, playing with ideas. The baby zombie could be seen hyping up the crowd and engaging with the music, creating delightful moments that made the filming process enjoyable for the crew. Obviously, only parts made it into the movie, but that reflects the idea of the movie: Just having a good time and trying to find fun ideas, he added.

Estey highlighted how enlightening it was to witness Jared Hess's directorial style. And also just seeing how Jared as a director likes to work, he said. Being able to do that for all the sequences was really refreshing, and it gave us a chance to see what type of director he was, what his creative desires were, and what his sense of humor was. So it really helped set a tone for us.

This fun and creative collaboration resulted in a unique portrayal of the chicken jockey character, and it seems that theres a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes footage featuring the actor riding a toy horse and dancing on ropes. Fans of 'Minecraft' can hope for a glimpse of this raw, unfiltered video when the movie is released digitally, offering a delightful insider perspective on the creative journey behind one of the film's standout characters.