Jeff Scheetz of Monkey Chow Animation Studios has become used to using his deep special effects chops to enhance all manner of creatures.
After all, the Orlando-based effects wizard has credits in out-of-this-world productions like Babylon 5 and Star Trek Voyager. In fact, his shots were part of Babylon 5’s opening credit scenes.
But in late February, the producers of the Roku TV series Reptile Royalty called on him to use some SFX magic on a different kind of creature. Or, should we say, three creatures.
Sheetz and his company placed tracking balls – the kind used in major video games and animated features for motion capture – on a rhino iguana named Beckham, a dwarf crocodile named J.J. and a Dumeril’s boa constrictor named Pebbles for the show.
“My office neighbors are used to seeing weird things happening here,” Scheetz said. “But snakes and alligators in the hallway top the list.”
The episode debuted on Roku TV last week.
In it, show hosts Jay and Juliette Brewer bring three animals into the studio.
The animals were each fitted with tracking devices and special cameras that track their movements.
Reptile Royalty spent part of its second season in Florida and finished the trip with an Orlando stop.
Ultimately, the crew put trackers on both Brewers and recorded a fun introduction video of them dancing and welcoming guests at Reptile Zoo, in Fountain Valley, Calif.
Scheetz has had a long history in Orlando as a visual effects specialist.
His business Monkey Chow Animation Studios launched in 2015 and added motion capture capabilities in 2021.
Scheetz along with his wife, Anne, created the DAVE School, an institution that specializes in digital animation and visual effects.
But even before that, he found his name in the credit scenes of iconic scifi hits like Babylon 5 and Star Trek.
Ever since launching Monkey Chow, he has been involved with some notable Orlando projects, including the video wall in the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium at Universal Studios.
In addition, the company has done work for Sharknado 6 and HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones.
More is in the works, as well, including a Netflix movie, but Scheetz couldn’t say more because of non-disclosure agreements.
“This has been a great year for us,” he said.
Motion capture technology isn’t necessarily new, with base technologies dating back nearly a century.
But recent technological advances have made motion capture much more viable and affordable in projects.
“It has gotten really good lately as the world around it changes,” Scheetz said.
Still, the base component of a good mocap system and studio continues to be based on capturing real-world
Although Scheetz says it comes with its own challenges, especially when it comes to working with animals.
“Wiping up reptile urine was also a first for us,” he said.