LogInInspired by the 2020 Unreal Engine 5 reveal trailer.
CFX Artist Milán Lampert has recently revisited his project that started all the way back in 2020, unveiling an impressive simulation of hundreds of insects dynamically scattering in reaction to light, inspired by Unreal Engine 5's announcement trailer.
Powered by Houdini, Milán's sim has gone through many iterations over the years, but, according to the creator, has only recently been brought "to a presentable state." As explained by the artist, the project comprised building a system that can tell where the given surface is illuminated and where it isn't, which was accomplished by turning the illuminated points into a geometry with VDB From Particles and Convert VDB, and making a crowd simulation capable of adopting the movement and state based on the lighting, done via nodes.
"Waaaay back in 2020, when I saw the Unreal Engine 5 trailer (I just learned that the name of the project is 'Lumen in the Land of Nanite'), I was mesmerized by the effect where the insect reacted to the light," Milán comments. "At the time I wanted to recreate this effect in Houdini, and even though I managed to do it, I was never satisfied with the result. Since then from time to time I picked up this project, but never actually finished it, until now.
To better explain how the project was done, the author also shared a comprehensive write-up outlining the production process and breaking down the lighting system and the crowd simulation setup, as well as shared a video version of the breakdown:
For context, here's the earlier iteration of Milán's project showcased by the artist in 2021:
Also, check out the 2020 UE5 trailer the simulation was inspired by:
Click here to see more of Milán's works and don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.