AMBULANCE

Motion Graphics, AE script Workflow,Maya script Workflow

Role

Animation/Scripting

Agency

Compost Creative

Client

BBC

"Ambulance" is a BBC documentary series following real-life emergency responders across the UK. Our studio created 3D maps visualizing ambulance routes and incident locations to enhance audience understanding.

With over 50 animations per season, I optimized the workflow by developing Python scripts for Maya and automation tools for After Effects, significantly improving efficiency and production speed.

Locating places

We create event and ambulance tags in the Maya map based on the script's information. Typically, this requires manually searching for postcodes or locations in Google Maps while visually locating them on Maya’s satellite view—an extremely time-consuming process.

I used the Google Geocoding API to convert locations into coordinates, transformed them into the British National Grid with Python Pyproj, and remapped them to Maya’s map space for precise tag placement.

Automating Routes

We used to manually trace ambulance routes in Maya by referencing satellite images and drawing curves. Now, using the Google Directions API, we automate this process by converting start and end points into GPX data, extracting coordinates, and mapping them into Maya to generate precise curves.

In After Effects, we import locator and camera data from Maya and replace them with editable labels. The script I developed streamlines this process, providing an efficient and automated solution.

Automating in AE

Previously, converting null layers imported from Maya to labels had to be done one by one. With the script I developed, we can now select all the null layers and convert them into labels with a single click, significantly improving efficiency.

Batch Creation of Strokes

In the past, creating multiple strokes in After Effects required manually adding them one by one. With the new script, we can now generate multiple strokes with a single click, streamlining the process and significantly boosting productivity. This automation eliminates the need for repetitive tasks, allowing for faster workflow and more efficient animation creation.