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Watch how House of the Dragon’s gorgeous dragons were made in new visual effects reel

BBG News

As a dedicated fan who has spent countless hours poring over every inch of Westeros and Essos, I can confidently say that the behind-the-scenes look at House of the Dragon season 2 from Rodeo FX was nothing short of breathtaking. The intricate process of creating Baela Targaryen’s dragon Moondancer left me in awe, especially when I realized they used a soundstage with an animatronic buck mount – talk about dedication!

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but still be savoring the leftovers from season 2 of “House of the Dragon,” with tantalizing bits of behind-the-scenes footage and production details continuing to satisfy my appetite weeks later. One such tasty morsel comes straight from Rodeo FX, a digital effects company that was part of the show’s magical team. They recently shared a detailed look at some of the visual effects they created for season 2, offering glimpses of Baela Targaryen’s dragon Moondancer, the imposing Wall, the grand architecture of King’s Landing, Jacaerys Velaryon’s dragon Vermax, and the colossal Silverwing dragon.

It’s always interesting to get a glimpse behind the curtain for these effects-heavy prestige TV shows, and that’s doubly true for a show groundbreaking effects like House of the Dragon. Watch below:

Rodeo FX shows how Baela Targaryen and Ulf White’s dragon moments were made

Among all the fantastic moments in this reel, what particularly caught my attention was Baela Targaryen (played by Bethany Antonia) soaring on her dragon, Moondancer. In episode 3 of the season, “The Burning Mill,” Baela notices Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) and a few knights while she’s out exploring on her dragon. A thrilling sequence ensues as she pursues them, with close-ups of actress Antonia interspersed with panoramic shots of the landscape, along with ample footage of Moondancer.

As a gamer, I’ve got to admit, it’s mind-blowing to witness the fusion of reality and digital magic on House of the Dragon. The massive soundstage, adorned with an animatronic buck mount, serves as the actors’ dragonback throne. Yet, what truly captivates me is seeing how those authentic set shots seamlessly blend with the breathtaking CGI dragons. To add to the enchantment, special effects transformed our surroundings into the mystical landscapes we ultimately watched unfold in each episode.

In the scene, there are numerous other stunning sights to take in. Many shots of King’s Landing were filmed on location in Cáceres, Spain, and then enhanced with digitally created extensions of tall buildings. The Wall included a bit of soundstage work for the characters standing atop it, which was then scaled down and overlaid onto the impressive structure we see on screen. The river and surrounding landscape of the Twins were also digitally crafted on a vast soundstage. As for Silverwing the dragon, the footage reveals not just the soundstage where Ulf White (Tom Bennett) first encounters her, but also the dragon’s flight over King’s Landing.

There aren’t too many TV shows that can match the special effects found in House of the Dragon, and now I can’t wait to watch it from start to finish once more!

Currently, both seasons of House of the Dragon can be found streaming on Max. We anticipate that production for season 3 will begin next year, so it’s likely that we’ll get to enjoy it in the year 2026.

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2024-08-21 21:41

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