Harry Potter ANIMAL TRANSFORMATION Tutorial for After Effects

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This fun effect is based on what you see in the Harry Potter films where a "Animagus" human magically transforms into an animal (or an animal into a human) - good examples are at Hogwarts School when Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) transforms into a cat - surprising Harry and Ron when they are late, Professor Lupin (David Thewlis) becoming a werewolf and fighting Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew or Wormtail (Timothy Spall) transforming into Scabbers the rat.
In the films they likely have used CGI animals for the shot where they transform to get the precise movements they wanted, and 3D animation to blend or morph the human together with the animal for the transformation. But I tried the 'no-budget' approach - using a real animal (my cat Alfie) a green screen and Adobe After Effects!
You need to film your animal and human using a green or blue screen to add a clean background later. Now we were just using my cat Alfie for this, and he is not trained to act or appear on camera in any way, so my plan was simply to film the cat first to see what we would get that we could use. This is because it would be easier for me to copy the cat than try and get the cat to copy me. I thought it would also be easier to start the shot with the cat and have him turn into me rather than the other way round. In the end after several takes, we got Alfie to sit still in the same place facing the camera, and got a nice moment of turning his head a little. For part two I tried to copy the rough position the cat had been in. Then I ‘acted’ the end of the transformation, looked a round a little but as if I’m checking to see if anyone had seen me, and then I just exit the frame. Thirdly we just needed a clean background to put behind both figures, and it was time fire up Adobe After Effects.
So the first thing to do is to line up the two main shots on top of each other, If it’s easier you can parent one layer to the other - I parented the cat’s layer to the human layer so that it would stick to it and move in exactly the same way. Another thing that will probably make the change easier is to actually freeze the frame using time remapping. Now you can go ahead and remove the green screens from both shots using the Keylight effect. f the edges of the background are still visible, to get rid of these you can use the pen tool and draw masks around just the parts of the shots that you want to see.
Next add the Mesh Warp effect to both layers. You can now add a keyframe under Distortion Mesh at the beginning and the end of the section where we want the change to happen. So first we want to make the cat change into the shape of the human over time. So if we leave the first keyframe as it is, we can go to the end one and begin to distort the cat to make it line up with the shape of the human. And you can do that by pushing and pulling the corners of the squares around. And now we can do the same process with the human, but in reverse. Set two key frames, one at the beginning and one at the end, and this time we're going to leave the ending one alone, and we can distort the beginning of the human to look like the cat. So once you've changed everything on both layers, you can now keyframe the opacity of the human layer, which remember is the one on top, to start at 0% and end up at 100%. This will slowly make the cat layer underneath disappear, and as long as you’ve lined your edges up, it won’t be seen at the end because it will be covered completely by the human layer. And that is basically how you can do a morph effect between an animal and a human!
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[@theActionMovieKid]

Such a huge fan of your work, sir!

[@SteveRamsdenYoutube]

Many thanks, very kind!

[@nimitverma3460]

​@@SteveRamsdenKZbinthis can easily done with reshape effect

[@user-wr2uy9pj4m]

I would suggest having the character be a cat for like 75% of the morph, but that's just my opinion, great tutorial as always!

[@user-wr2uy9pj4m]

It also might make more sense to make the cat ears morph to where the human ears are, but that would require extra work

[@user-wr2uy9pj4m]

@Author B.L. Alley that's a great point, I never thought about it

[@SteveRamsdenYoutube]

Regarding the ears, yes absolutely that would probably make more sense. Tried it briefly with the mesh warp but it didn't work. Might be one to try with the puppet pin tool though!

[@renderize69]

Finally, a Tutorial to rule the internet

[@smsahil9016]

That's a good opinion

[@abhishekvaru]

I hope More and More Wizards like you could teach us Muggles these fantastic Magic Tricks !! Thankyou So Much :)

[@rappeezy]

I'm subbed to 50+ editing/AE channels like this and yours far exceeds the rest. Not even remotely close.

[@professionalnobody651]

I always laugh when he does that look before he walks away. Classic

[@SteveRamsdenYoutube]

Those school plays weren't a total waste I guess haha

[@EnchantedSmellyWolf]

​@@SteveRamsdenKZbingotta make sure no one witnessed, twice. 😂

[@yggdraproduction2601]

Hello, I'm French, you are amazing, I love your channel, thank you for all this fantastic work and sharing

[@damianstech1502]

It's unbelievable how good it looks like! Good job!

[@englishforsrilanka2535]

Hey Steve, I was one of the 5 that got the discount code during the preview of your AE mini course. So far, I don't regret the 75$ spent but I do wish that the tutorials were longer. Having said that, keep up the good work and please update me in case you plan to sell more courses. Cheers!

[@sodokenstudios]

you know anytime i get to work on a film i visit your channel for inspiration

[@mash_rafi]

Harry Potter werewolf transformation pls

[@M3Piks]

had been waiting for this... thanks for the tutorial

[@FaddyVFX]

Very helpful and informative, there so much to learn, one step at a time

[@asmaakhalifa3895]

I'm a big fan of ur work sir

[@GEXO1000]

😱This video was very helpful😱

[@klisher]

To get the cat to sit on that plinth, all you had to do was, put a sheet of paper on it and start writing on the paper (or put a keyboard and start typing) preferably with a drink on there too. Hey presto instant cat attraction. hahaha.

[@thanujaudayanga7228]

Awesome bro .. More magic plzz.. Werewolf transformation would be grate.. Thanks .

[@3DEditor]

What sets apart true 3D warping and 2D, is every body shape will warp into another and not just around the outer edge. This is why 3D warping looks more believable than 2D warping. Doing it with just 2D video frames in after effects, is an okay alternative for those who don't know how to use 3D programs, while giving you more practice using after effects tools. That's where the quality and believability stops, just okay and not going to be used in any major films.

[@SteveRamsdenYoutube]

100%, this is very much more of a DIY / low budget / basic method for folks to try :)

[@englishforsrilanka2535]

Which 3D programs would you suggest I learn?

[@3DEditor]

@@englishforsrilanka2535 for those who want to learn 3D Modeling and Animation for reliable professional results, go with Maya. There's plenty other programs out there for beginners and novice, but may not deliver the kind of results you're looking for.

[@wasteoflife3164]

Super editing sir but I want to no perfect vfc

[@colleenraven4152]

loved it wow you are amazing thank you for this tutorial

[@UneekGamer]

You are amazing. IDK why you aren't getting more views man. Great job. Love your work.

[@speedtripvfx]

Looking how hard was to keep the cat relaxed, I’ll use a turtle.

[@johnschneider7499]

I enjoyed this tutorial I am now trying to use techniques from it to morph a huge snake into a human.

[@feededandrea]

SO CUTEEE YOUR CAT 🐱

[@SteveRamsdenYoutube]

He's a nightmare haha

[@mohanKumar-ep4eu]

Professional... VFX editor Love 💓 ur videos...

[@SteveRamsdenYoutube]

Many thanks 👍

[@jayfagie]

You’re a wizard Steve

[@EnglishStorytimeAudiobooksMeo]

thank you so much !

[@butareyouokay]

i first watched the Short. it looked so good, so i HAD to Subscribe. This was amazing! i cannot wait to be able to afford Adobe After Effects, so i can return to this tutorial. Thank you SO much, mate.

[@kelelawrence9740]

Am now a learner so please make it step by step gradually ok sir. Steve you too much in your teaching God bless you.......!!

[@ResatulIslamYT]

Need Venom Transformation tricks💓💓💓💓💓

[@nightmisterio]

Imagine glasses passing from the cat transformation all the way into human for haha

[@stefansender2634]

🎶 Turbulent displace! 🎵 Turbulent displace! 🎶

[@rawnac5036]

your videos helped me alot ..thanks i love to watch your each and every video

[@rajatbasu5425]

Keep up i like your videos

[@Vikaskumar-mj5ky]

Great thnx for this buddy

[@ukmonk]

Nice tutorial thank you! and your cat is beautiful!

[@AnimationGoneWrong]

Another excellent tutorial, Steve! What's that quote? Never work with kids or animals... looks like your cat wasn't the most cooperative actor on set, but you got the shot!!! Very "Potter-esque"! Nicely done.

[@SteveRamsdenYoutube]

Haha thanks, he was a diva!

[@jawaduddin1160]

Sir,you are the best..❤️❤️..the way you teach is so understandable and so fabulous❤️❤️❤️

[@kylemoore589]

6:46 *Warpcat stares incredulously*

[@ManantialVE]

This was just magic!

[@willpritchardch]

lets go new steve ramsden vid!

[@NicholasAndrew1]

Such a coincidence that I searched for it just one day after you post it

[@ELLFProduction]

We want most effects on Harry Potter! That's good!

[@jehriko7525]

this is impressive and inspiring, I might just give visual effects a go

[@robcostigan8757]

Excellent job. Loved it.

[@MSFILMARTS]

This is amazing work

[@SteveRamsdenYoutube]

Many thanks!

[@MSFILMARTS]

@@SteveRamsdenKZbin welcome bro. Am following you all the way from Malawi

[@videospost7715]

Hey Can you please teach us the effects from Vampire Diaries when a vampire dies I’m trying to learn how to do it.

[@nbentertainment3840]

this is so cool I will try it thanks a lot

[@videospost7715]

Great video thanks so much I’m going to use this in my tv show ima mention you in it 🔥💯💯

[@slivifilm1144]

Excelent 💪💪👍👍

[@adibkhowajazadah3539]

what a great work???!!! thanks sir. keep it up

[@dodzdagondon3231]

Wow!

[@Miracle_T_]

So well done Steve, you acting is awesome👏🏻👏🏻

[@mksproductions737]

Good job

[@user-jg3rk6bw9n]

The cat With The human shape Looks Just Like The Grinch

[@goingmyles7681]

Woah, I’ll have to use this

[@YannickFilms]

Great Tutorial!💯

[@sparrowmoose3479]

This is so cool!!

[@user-ti8gb5wh5d]

How long did this take you out of curiosity? Not the filming but the editing bit!

[@theehcreation]

I learned so much from you.. Thank u so much.💙

[@GLAKJack]

Where am I supposed to find a real werewolf?

[@kriandocena]

perfect...is a great vfx and a good actor.

[@SinaFarhat]

Cool! :)

[@coolvideos8864]

This used to be called Morphing on the Amiga back in the 90's

[@castoniox]

Hohoho such a great work dude!

[@vyshnav3718]

Waiting 🔥

[@steverileyretired]

Great work, thanks

[@salam7717]

awesome

[@munnahossainngn]

I love you boss

[@asadtech1783]

great job!

[@ComiXtik2484]

Hi Steve. Love your tutorials. You're incredible mate. I have had a problem with after effects lately, as whenever I drop my footage into the source box, it appears all pixelated on the preview. Any idea what to do?

[@S9universe]

cool man

[@monke3043]

How to transform using CGI?

[@scamarytanin]

Steve Macgonagal ;O

[@p.c.windhamparanormalroman4339]

Are you contractually obligated to use only Adobe products or can you use other software. I personally just switched to DaVinci Resolve 17 and would love to see how some of these effects can be done using it.

[@sentisteven8229]

Fan

[@juicille923juice3]

Does apple motion have this same transform effect?

[@erickortizalvarez8414]

Can you put it with subtitles in Spanish please? for those of us who don't speak English 😭😢, excellent video, you have my like

[@kingyaneunice1]

As a Harry Potter fan Lupin is not turning into a wolf but a werewolf, werewolves are different from animagus

[@Dab-studios]

How do I do this on mobile?

[@nexusfilmscompany1600]

From Africa,Kenya🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪 great viewer ,,,#steveRamsden

[@karanjagathuku]

Which application is he using?

[@nexusfilmscompany1600]

@@karanjagathuku kinemaster and capcut

[@hayefahayefa4874]

greeaat

[@spotyplay7791]

Hi sir how are you

[@DSJArsh]

Okay! A quick question! You said "in UK its 50fps instead of 25" What is stopping you from filming in 60fps by switching to NTSC, if its all going to be edited and published digitally.

[@SteveRamsdenYoutube]

Nothing stopping me, yes I can indeed shoot 60fps / NTSC as well. In this case I preferred 50fps PAL as I didn't want it to look too slowed down. I could have gone with 30fps NTSC too, but 50 felt like a nice balance :)

[@DSJArsh]

@@SteveRamsdenKZbin oh! Okay then! Understandable Hey! Nice video BTW! All of them! ... Videos All of the videos ... Are .. nice 😁 Your videos i mean

[@Jolontokhalilswork]

Out of the mark

[@kabilan_vfx]

Hi , can i get your green screen buying link

[@sprettertmedia]

Make your owne film that is in the harry potter universe

[@redpeel]

Steve you are a legend.. I tried to this with my cat, And lets just say I got slapped by the cat And He ran away F in the chat

[@wasimgamer1364]

F and Lol

[@CrustyCowboy]

You look like you could be Bill Burr's brother

[@xandros7663]

Shame I can’t afford after effects...

[@sagor_khan1933]

omg

[@bensmith5612]

Animorphs did it years before Harry Potter.

[@SteveRamsdenYoutube]

Haha yeah I used to see those books on the shelf in primary school!

[@mayankmagicpranks8537]

Hermoine : You are spelling it wrong , its not tranf- *ormation* , its transf- *iguration* .....

[@mibarcita3223]

Primero

[@expleinercrozo6361]

Only those who suffer should have success ....

[@expleinercrozo6361]

: ( ( :

[@Elissiim]

зачем брать настоящего кожаного кота, если можно взять модельки.. с таким же успехом можно взять и настоящие палочки или огнестрельные жезлы и разнести студию к оам собачьим хд

[@expleinercrozo6361]

This channel is the result of your suffering. So support him.

[@Nohandlefornow]

Early

[@abisz007007]

08:26 saying turbulent displacement without playing the film riot turbulent displacement song is a VFX crime and you WILL be prosecuted for it.

[@samuelcreatives6050]

nice work