Government agent mom Raquel and cause-oriented daughter Alice work together.

How theGRID Works
Essentially, DKP’s theGRID is a productivity maximizer. The process allows every story element to be available for live and immediate feedback at the same time that it is being designed and animated. “Any editorial change only takes 15-30 seconds to change on the production floor,” Dale says.

TheGRID uses state-of-the-art technology to create state-of-the-art art. From building the asset list for each episode; constructing, rigging and texturing each character; moving into layout and animation; and finally into lighting, rendering and compositing, theGRID impacts everyone’s role, every step of the way.

“We use a very strict naming convention,” advises Dale. “So anyone looking for a specific Maya sequence, for example, will be able to load it and it’s ready to go. We use it for props, sets, audio — everything. Any changes become part of the auto system, and they will be reflected right away. We can roll out the tape at any part of the day and it will be the most up-to-date.”

While using theGRID is not limited to executive reviews and approvals, it does speed things up in that area tremendously. “We can do a conference call and get remote approval within an hour,” notes Morch. “Clients who are out of town feel they’re part of things and have creative control, not separated.”

Game Over shows its wild humor when 300-pound family pet Turbo dons a rabbi disguise.

The key to theGRID is evolution. “Even after just two shows, we could tell how we could put in more time-saving methods,” says production vp Dale. “We’re trying to get so that the directors and the animators have full control. It’s a very collaborative process and a very educational one.”

What theGRID Makes
So, theGRID makes 3D animation fast, but does it make 3D animation good? “Well, we’re making a TV show, not a feature, but everyone who sees it says the quality is very good,” says Dale. “It’s really a new standard for 3D.”

DKP opted for using keyframe CGI rather than motion capture for Game Over, although the company previously worked on the Scourge of Worlds: A Dungeons and Dragons Adventure interactive DVD project that utilized MoCap. “Game Over is a ‘toon’ project, so we wanted to be broader, for the gags,” Dale says.

In fact, theGRID’s flexibilty has proven invaluable for adjusting the animation to ensure scripted jokes are achieved. “The timing is very important, and we sometimes have to go back and adjust things to make sure the visuals work right, and we aren’t ‘losing’ the gag,” Dale says.