After I animated the Hippo, Animal Logic, in Australia, composited the live action and 3D rendered elements together to make the final shots. The car and the gas station attendant are live-action; they were filmed in an otherwise empty studio. The attendant was played by a mime, since there was no gas station and no hippo there for him to service.

In addition to the rendered animation, I also sent 3D models of the buildings over to Animal Logic, so that they could make last-minute changes to the appearance of the city. You can see more of Animal Logic's work on their web page, www.animalogic.com.

Do you recognize the texture map on the pavement? It's the same map I have covering the walls of the subway tunnel from my thesis. (Click here to compare.) It started as a picture I took with a telephoto lens, looking up at the bottom of a bridge in the 210 Freeway.