As part of our animation offering to our clients, Dream Engine is making increasing use of a tool called Unreal Engine – an advanced real time 3D creation tool.
Similar to actual physical video production, Unreal Engine offers a whole range of visual production from creating movies, interactives and games.
Unreal Engine works as a virtual set much like a real set with cameras, props, actors, etc. There is a lot of room to explore ideas and visuals that could never be achieved in the real world.
The pipeline process of creating videos is very much similar to traditional videography, and is broken down to various different stages-
Preproduction
The idea, what the content is about, the script, storyboard and all the ideas required to get the ball rolling starts here.
Storyboard / Script
The Visual representation and the script that help producers get an idea of what the end result is supposed to be. A quick sketch with captions of each important frame helps build the video scene by scene along with where voice dialogues are supposed to be.
Asset Management
The key items that make up the video will include 3D assets, environment, characters, props, VFX, etc. There are many ways to acquire 3D assets like paid assets as well as free assets available online. It is also possible to your own assets that are created in a 3D software like Maya, Blender that can be exported and used in Unreal Engine. It is also important to know that 3D assets require textures and material. As expected, the higher the texture quality- the more realistic the scene would be. Yet it is possible to create stylised art styles to be unique and eye catching.
Real Time workflow
No rendering is required when previewing the scene which is an extremely helpful feature, compared to render software that required each frame to be rendered in order for it to be previewed. If the camera needs to be adjusted, it is easy to move objects around without worrying of how long it takes to render. As of Unreal Engine 5, lighting does not need to be baked which allows for even changes to be made much quicker.
Cross Application
Videos can be exported from Unreal Engine that can then be edited in other programs like After Effects and Premiere Pro. This allows for integrating graphics and other elements that can be added and even tracked into the video, allowing for creative freedom.
If any edits are required, exporting the video does not take much time to render compared to other applications like Maya or 3DS Max, so iterations can easily be made and re-exported based on required changes.
Unreal Engine has a lot to offer with its engine and tool set which gives producers an edge to achieve their vision regardless of their budget.
Ryan Spanger is the founder and managing director of Dream Engine, a Melbourne-based video production company established in 2002. With more than two decades of experience, Ryan has helped leading Australian businesses, government departments, and non-profits communicate their message with clarity and impact through video. He’s known for his strategic approach, reliable process, and commitment to producing videos that deliver measurable results.
