The Pitt | Case Study
CG
Rigging
Tracking
Go step by step through the process of creating a realistic severed limb for this series as well as further applications for this technology.
Please note this case study contains graphic imagery, discretion advised.
"The Pitt" follows the daily lives of healthcare professionals in a Pittsburgh hospital as they juggle personal crises, workplace politics, and the emotional toll of treating critically ill patients, revealing the resilience required in their noble calling. Seasons 1 & 2 are streaming now on HBO.
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We used anatomy figures from medical journals as well as a CG leg model for references when developing the assets.
Each element, bone, muscle, fat, blood, and skin, was created as a separate layer before being puzzled together.
Details included severed and torn sections of the limb as well as dirt and scratches to reflect the context behind the injury.
The static model is transformed into a digital “puppet” or rig that can move, bend, and react as needed.
Further anatomical study provided references for the physiological traits and external factors that generate movement on a limb. These were translated into a rig, the geometric framework that is independently attributed to layers created for the model.
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Major movement and subtle shifts that change or affect tension, weight, density, and structure are conveyed from multiple camera angles and lighting scenarios using this structure.
Advanced research and input from the show’s medical advisors refined the work to make it as accurate as possible.
The result is a digital machine with controls that can replicate the expected reactions of the body in real-life medical trauma scenarios.
The Series
"The Pitt" is well known for its accurate depictions of real life emergency room scenarios. Our modeling and rigging teams went through medical research and studied real human anatomy to maintain this realism and accurately depict the extreme injuries handled in the series.
A key example of this is the amputated leg seen in episode 10 of season 2.
Developing the Model
We used anatomy figures from medical journals as well as a CG leg model for references when developing the assets.
Each element, bone, muscle, fat, blood, and skin, was created as a separate layer before being puzzled together.
Details included severed and torn sections of the limb as well as dirt and scratches to reflect the context behind the injury.
Further anatomical study provided references for the physiological traits and external factors that generate movement on a limb.
The static model is transformed into a a digital puppet or "rig" with a geometric framework that can move, bend, and react as needed.
This is applied to the individual layers of the model so that each one can be independently manipulated.
Major movement and subtle shifts that change or affect tension, weight, density, and structure are all created to impact the model as needed for a scene. These factors can all be conveyed from multiple camera angles and lighting scenarios.
Advanced research and input from the show’s medical advisors refined the work to make it as accurate as possible.
The result is a digital machine with controls that can replicate the expected reactions of the body in real-life medical trauma scenarios.
Further Applications
Further applications for this technology go beyond the film and television industry. Our artists are able to simulate real medical procedures and injuries, as well as disease progression and anatomical references with a high level of accuracy and detail. can be used in demonstrations, lecture
We have begun the research stage to create these models for the medical field that can be used in demonstrations, lectures, and more.
For more information about human modeling, please reach out to info@ingenuitystudios.com.