Why Mandrills Jumping on Bridges was one of the Toughest Effects In ‘Jumanji: The Next Level’

By Ian Failes.

One of the most intense actions sequences in Jake Kasdan’s Jumanji: The Next Level sees the main cast – including Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson – attempting to evade a troop of vicious mandrills while also traversing a series of precarious rope bridges.

The sequence would involve a wealth of visual effects; for the mandrills themselves, the mountainous landscapes and the bridges (the simulation of which became a touchstone feature of the scene).

A major challenge for the VFX studio behind the work, Weta Digital, became marrying up mandrill animation with the constantly moving bridges. Here’s a look at how both the live action for the mandrill chase was shot and how Weta solved the complex VFX.

How to shoot a scene

Read the full article on Befores and Afters.