Universal Pictures’ TED Speaks At The Oscars

If you were home on Sunday, chances are you were one of the 40.3 million people who watched the Oscars. Did you catch Ted? Tippett Studio brought the title character from Universal Pictures’ blockbuster live action/CG-animated comedy, back to life for the 85th Annual Academy Awards® telecast. Accompanied by friend and co-star Mark Wahlberg , a computer-generated Ted riffed a few jokes on Sunday night before the duo presented Oscars for Sound Mixing and Sound Editing.

Incorporating 3D character animation into a pre-recorded movie or television show is one challenge, but integrating an animated character into a live-broadcast in front of a global audience is quite another.

Behind the shenanigans of the world’s favorite crass teddy bear were the same visual effects and character animation artists responsible for his creation in 2012’s global comedy hit TED. Blair Clark of Tippett Studio perfected the illusion alongside Seth MacFarlane (Oscar® host, voice of Ted and director of the film), telecast director Don Mischer and the Awards broadcast team.

For the filming of the segment, a duplicate of the Academy Awards® stage was constructed at CBS Studios, with lighting and cameras situated to match the Dolby Theatre™ set up. The feat involved planning exact camera positions so that the animation, rendered using Dell Precision workstations, would integrate seamlessly on Oscar Night® with Wahlberg and the show audience. With five nominees in each category, Tippett artists created 10 different outcomes in just a four-week production schedule. As the winners were unknown before the envelope was opened, Mischer and his team sat at the ready to push the button for the correct winner during the live broadcast.

“It’s always enjoyable working with Ted, and having him present at the Oscars was an exciting challenge,” said Clark. “As well, working with Seth and Don was great. Their trust and support made a technically ambitious presentation with a tight deadline run smoothly.”

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane brings his boundary-pushing brand of humor to the big screen for the first time as writer, director and voice star of TED. In the live action/CG-animated comedy, he tells the story of John Bennett ( Mark Wahlberg ), a grown man who must deal with the cherished teddy bear who came to life as the result of a childhood wish…and has refused to leave his side ever since. www.tedisreal.com