Ice Age: Apocalypse

Ice Age: Apocalypse is a two-part documentary series made for Channel 5 that explores the mysteries of this glacial period and examines its inhabitants.

Produced by October Film Studios, with involvement from Norwich University of the Arts staff and students from BA (Hons) Film & Moving Image Production, BA (Hons) Games Art & Design, and BA (Hons) Animation & Visual Effects, the series new ground through extensive use of Virtual Production and visual effects technology to recreate environments from the Ice Age.

Virtual production (VP) is a filmmaking technique that blends real-world footage and traditional filmmaking techniques with digitally created environments. This innovative technology was essential in recreating the vast, icy landscapes in which woolly mammoths and sabre-tooth cats once roamed. The project also explored the creation and animation of these ice age giants, bringing these creatures to life using game engines like Unreal Engine.

For the students involved in the production, this was a unique opportunity to investigate the ways in which traditional filmmaking processes can intersect with virtual technologies.