FuseFX

**FuseFX** is a visual-effects studio that produced many of the visual effects seen in all seasons of *The Orville* to date. FuseFX was brought on for the series premiere, *Old Wounds*, as the show's main vendor.

FuseFX was one of two outside companies brought in to produce the effects for the show in Season 2, the other being Pixomondo, with FuseFX taking the lead. Smaller assisting companies were CoSA VFX and Crafty Apes.

## History

FuseFX was established in 2006 by David Altenau, Tim Jacobsen, and Jason Fotter in Burbank, California.

The Orville's visual effects producer, Brooke Noska, worked at FuseFX before joining the show for Season 1.

## The Orville

### Season 1

FuseFX worked on various visual effects for *The Orville*. While a complete list of FuseFX's Season 1 projects is not known, some examples are New York City in *Old Wounds* and *Command Performance* and the Union Dockyard in *Old Wounds*,

### Season 2

After The Orville was renewed for a second season, the show's visual effects supervisor Luke McDonald enlisted two visual effects studios, FuseFX and Pixomondo, to assist with creating the effects for its ambitious Battle of Earth in the episode *Identity, Pt. 2*. The two companies coordinated their work with McDonald, digital effects supervisor Brandon Fayette, and visual effects producer Brooke Noska via Skype.

Pixomondo handled the Battle of Earth's effects from the start of the battle until the arrival of the Krill, while FuseFX handled the effects for the rest of the battle until the end.

FuseFX's team worked on either 108 shots, 117 shots, or over 200 shots for the Battle of Earth (reports of the exact number conflict). Interestingly, FuseFX was considered the lead third-party company over Pixomondo even though Pixomondo ultimately worked on 350 shots.

FuseFX's team primarily used Maya and 3ds Max tools, as well as Nuke, Phoenix, and Houdini - however, the scope of the battle was so massive that FuseFx was forced to make new software to handle the workload. "Our biggest achievement was keeping up with the pace," reported Tommy Tran, FuseFX's visual effects supervisor. "The show is fluid, and we adapt, more importantly, we are nimble enough to keep up with the show’s needs."

### Season 3

In an interview following the end of Season 3, show creator Seth MacFarlane described the de-aging work on Dolly Parton done by FuseFX as having been a visual effect for the season he was particularly proud of. FuseFX produced complex visuals for 1,827 shots of Season 3, including a completely overhauled USS *Orville* and the new *Pterodon* fighter vessel.

## Awards

The studio won the HPA Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in television in a show of 13 or more episodes. It was nominated for an Emmy Award in Outstanding Special Visual Effects as well.

## FuseFX Team

The following is a list of FuseFX employees that worked on The Orville:

* Tommy Tran - visual effects supervisor
* Melissa DeLong - visual effects producer
* Kevin Lingenfelser - additional visual effects supervisor
* JV Pike - digital effects supervisor
* Matt Von Brock - CG supervisor
* Mike Kirylo - additional CG Supervisor

## References

1. ↑ Episode 1x02: Command Performance
2. ↑ Seymour, Mike. "The Orville’s Battle of Identity at FuseFX". *fxguide*. March 4, 2019.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Seymour, Mike. "The Orville’s Battle of Identity at FuseFX". *fxguide*. March 4, 2019.
4. ↑ Frei, Vincent. "THE ORVILLE (S02E09): TOMMY TRAN & KEVIN LINGENFELSER (VFX SUPERVISORS) AND MATT VON BROCK (CG SUPERVISOR) – FUSEFX". *Art of VFX*. March 25, 2019.
5. ↑ Episode 1x02: Command Performance
6. ↑ Vineyard, Jennifer. "EMMY CONTENDER: HOW THE ORVILLE'S VFX TEAM FOUGHT A SPACE BATTLE AND SETH MACFARLANE BROKE A SHIP". *SyFy*. Aug. 28, 2019.
7. ↑ Failes, Ian. "VFX Battle Stations! Star Wars in The Orville". *VFXV*. Summer 2019. Pg. 87.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Negroni, Oscar. "THE ORVILLE - CREATING A NEARLY 8 MINUTE SPACE BATTLE SPECTACLE!". fusefx.com. March 29, 2019.
9. ↑ Failes, Ian. "VFX Battle Stations! Star Wars in The Orville". *VFXV*. Summer 2019. Pg. 87.
10. ↑ Seymour, Mike. "The VFX of The Orville- Season 2". *fxguide*. May 3, 2019.
11. ↑ Mitovich, Matt (August 10, 2022). *The Orville*'s Seth MacFarlane Explains Drama-Free Finale — And Why the Hulu Series' First F-Bomb Was Defused. TV Line. Retrieved on August 13, 2022.
12. ↑ Sarto, Dan (September 9, 2022). FuseFX Goes Big and Bold in ‘The Orville: New Horizons'. Animation World Network. Retrieved on September 9, 2022.
13. ↑ Awards & Nominations. fusefx.com. Last accessed March 9, 2022.