From Myth to Maelstrom: Building Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters

Bringing Giant Creatures and a Storm-Tossed Ocean to Life
Presented by: Thomas Schelesny, Visual Effects Supervisor, Image Engine 

This session breaks down how Image Engine brought the Sea of Monsters sequence to life in season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, where the heroes sail into a deadly, mythological ocean environment dominated by massive creatures and a colossal, churning whirlpool. The sequence blends live-action ship photography with full CG environments, animated creatures, complex ocean and weather simulations, and heavily layered atmospheric compositing to create a sense of danger, scale, and momentum.

In this session, attendees will learn about:

  • Breaking down a large-scale sequence combining live action and full CG

  • Balancing creative ambition with real-world production limitations

  • Using layout as the backbone for real-world scale, composition, and ship movement

  • Challenges of designing mythological creatures

  • How concept design rooted in Greek mythology shaped the final look for creatures