The studio highlights some of its powerful and poignant environment work on Peacock and Sky’s real-life story of Jewish Holocaust survivors Lali and Gita Sokolov, who met at the infamous death camp in 1942 when Lali tattooed Gita with her prisoner number shortly after her arrival.
‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz – Episode 1:’ Anna Próchniak as Gita Furman in Auschwitz. Photo credit: Martin Mlaka/Sky UK. All images © 2024 Synchronicity Films in association with Sky Studios All Rights Reserved. VFX showreel © Sky UK.
Union VFX has shared with AWN and VFXWorld some of their powerful and poignant digital environment visual effects work on the Peacock and Sky eight-part series, The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Their work was recently nominated for a VES Award for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode.
The show tells the extraordinary true story of Lali Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew sent to Auschwitz in 1942. Forced to work as a tattooist, he meets Gita, a fellow prisoner, and their love blossoms amidst unimaginable horrors. Decades later, Lali recounts his story to writer Heather Morris, reflecting on the courage, love, and survival that defined his life.
The studio notes that they were “honored to collaborate with an incredible team to bring this poignant series to life.” Working closely with Synchronicity Films, Alan Church, Simon Giles, Claire Mundell, and colleagues at Untold Studios, the Union VFX team played a key role in realizing the “harrowing yet hopeful story.” Their work ranged from the intricate digital reconstruction of Auschwitz-Birkenau to atmospheric effects like fire, ash, and weather.
Tali Shalom-Ezer directs. Claire Mundell executive produces through her company Synchronicity Films. The show is produced in association with Sky Studios and All3Media International. The series is a co-production for Sky and Peacock. Jacquelin Perske serves as executive producer and lead writer alongside episode writers Evan Placey (Associate Producer) and Gabbie Asher. Serena Thompson executive produces for Sky Studios.
The series is now streaming on NOW in the UK and Ireland, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Peacock in the US, and Stan in Australia.
Source: Union VFX
Dan Sarto(link sends e-mail) is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
