The newest episode of the God of War Ragnarok behind-the-scenes series details how animators, directors and cinematics producers constructed the game's most adorable scene. The epic sequel is filled with earth-shattering battles and emotional moments, with both helping to drive Kratos and Atreus' latest journey. One moment involving Kratos, Atreus and the wolf Fenrir is particularly memorable, and Santa Monica Studio has now outlined how the scene was constructed.
[Warning: This article contains story spoilers for God of War Ragnarok.]
The eighth episode of the God of War Ragnarok making-of series, posted to YouTube by PlayStation, breaks down the creation of a masterful cinematic. The video focuses on the scene where Kratos and Atreus encounter Fenrir, newly reborn in the massive body of Garm, in the cold wastes of Helheim. Pre-visualization helped plot out the movement of the game's no-cut camera, with Christopher Judge and Sunny Suljic portraying Kratos and Atreus via motion capture. The enormous Fenrir was brought to life with a combination of hand-keyed animation and reference footage of real dogs, helping to make him a realistic Norse icon.
God Of War Ragnarok Boasts Emotional & Gorgeous Cinematics
While combat and exploration are a huge part of the game, GoW Ragnarok's emotional and mythic story drives the entire experience. The complex relationship between Kratos and Atreus, whose attempts to protect each other drive a tense wedge between them, is conveyed through impeccable dialogue and expertly-directed cutscenes. While Kratos and Atreus' reunion with Fenrir in Helheim is whimsical, the scene also carries an emotional weight as Kratos realizes he was wrong to doubt Atreus' abilities and motivations. God of War Ragnarok goes on to deliver even more beautiful and heartwrenching moments, with Santa Monica Studio concluding the series' Norse saga through high-quality cinematics.
The God of War Ragnarok making-of series has examined every element of the beloved sequel, ranging from cinematics to combat and exploration. The previous episode focused on building Vanaheim in God of War Ragnarok, with the realm of the Vanir gods being arguably the most robust and beautiful location in the game. The lush Norse realm boasts several unique features compared to other worlds, like an adjustable day-night cycle and aggressive plant life. Vanaheim also includes The Crater, a massive optional area where players can stumble upon side quests and fight dragons while exploring a self-contained open world.
God of War Ragnarok successfully evolved the previous game's combat system, but the sequel also boasts an incredibly touching and expertly written narrative. Cinematics are the main avenue of delivery for this story, and these hand-crafted scenes deliver impactful moments on par with any Hollywood blockbuster. The rebirth of Fenrir is arguably the most adorable scene in God of War Ragnarok, with a great deal of care and attention ensuring this pivotal scene came out perfectly.
Source: PlayStation/YouTube
