Halon Entertainment Preserves Cultural Landmark with Hollywood-Grade LiDAR Technology

Hollywood VFX studio Halon Entertainment has given new life to Ms. Blue, America's largest outdoor blue whale skeleton, by creating a complete digital twin using the same advanced 3D scanning and modeling techniques employed in blockbuster productions. When the 87-foot skeleton began deteriorating after decades of exposure to harsh oceanfront elements, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center turned to film industry technology to preserve this cultural landmark through a combination of LiDAR scanning, digital recreation, and 3D printing solutions.

Kicking of April 22nd, Earth Day, visitors to the Seymour Center can use a free app to watch Ms. Blue transform into a full-bodied whale through augmented reality. By scanning special markers, the app projects a life-sized digital version of the whale, allowing guests to walk around and see her as she once swam the seas.

Last year, Halon joined us on the podcast to talk with VP Land about this initiative.

From Script to Screen: How film industry workflows transformed a preservation challenge

The preservation project followed a production pipeline familiar to any VFX professional, beginning with high-resolution data capture and ending with interactive deliverables.

• Using the Leica RTC360 scanner capable of capturing 2 million points per second, Halon's team completed 53 detailed LiDAR scans of the entire skeleton in less than a day

• Artists used ZBrush and Substance Painter to digitally reconstruct Ms. Blue's complete form, adding skin and muscle to the skeletal framework

• The team employed Maya for reconfiguration and anatomical positioning before importing the model into Unity for animation

• The final deliverables include interactive educational lessons, an augmented reality experience, and reference files for 3D-printed bone replacements

Post-Production Magic: How digital assets are extending beyond the screen to real-world applications

This project showcases how VFX production tools are finding powerful applications outside traditional entertainment contexts, creating tangible educational and preservation benefits.

• The same software stack used for blockbusters like Mission Impossible and The Mandalorian was repurposed to create scientifically accurate reconstructions of Ms. Blue's appearance and movement

• Digital assets created during the project serve multiple purposes: preservation records, educational tools, AR experiences, and manufacturing templates

• The LiDAR scans provide an archival record with unprecedented accuracy, capturing the skeleton's exact state at a specific moment in time

• For damaged bones too deteriorated to preserve, the digital models enabled the creation of 3D-printed replacements using sustainable materials made from recycled hospital trays

Final Cut: The preservation project signals emerging crossover opportunities for production professionals

This collaboration between a Hollywood VFX studio and scientific research center demonstrates how entertainment industry expertise can be leveraged to solve challenges in entirely different fields.

• The project highlights transferable skills between entertainment production and scientific visualization, potentially opening new revenue streams for VFX professionals

• As LiDAR technology becomes increasingly accessible, its applications continue to expand beyond traditional filmmaking into fields like historical preservation, education, and digital archiving

• The educational component of the project—featuring interactive lessons and AR experiences—shows how entertainment production techniques can create compelling educational content

• This cross-discipline collaboration points to a growing trend where Hollywood's technical expertise is being recognized and valued by scientific and cultural institutions

The successful preservation of Ms. Blue demonstrates how the toolsets and workflows familiar to film professionals are increasingly valuable in solving complex challenges across different sectors, potentially creating new career pathways and business opportunities for those with production technology expertise.