Storm Studios Breaks Down Percy Jackson Season 2 VFX: 200 Shots, Custom Houdini Solvers

Storm Studios, a VFX studio based in Oslo, Norway, has provided an inside look at visual effects work for the second season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The 8-episode season, adapting The Sea of Monsters, the second book in Rick Riordan's Greek mythology-inspired fantasy series, concluded in January.

The studio worked on roughly 200 shots spanning from traditional compositing to more complex character work. Among the notable challenges were the Sirens, which were designed with a distinctive rock-like appearance. For these creatures, the team developed a custom Bullet solver in Houdini to handle intersections with the rocks, while employing a custom Vellum solver to attach barnacles to their backs.

The breakdown also highlights other Season 2 effects work, including creeping vines and teleporting taxis. Storm Studios has an extensive portfolio in the entertainment industry, having contributed VFX to productions such as Daredevil: Born Again, The Last of Us, Alice in Borderland, Amazon's Fallout, and Remarkably Bright Creatures.

Looking ahead, the series is preparing for Season 3, which is slated to premiere this autumn.