Game of Thrones’ opening credits sequence has become one of the most iconic in the history of TV. Every week, millions of people around the world have their appetites whetted and spines tingled by the famous theme music and an exploration of an animated 3D map of Westeros, complete with the themes and locations of the forthcoming episode.
In this (spoiler-free!) podcast, Art Director and Head of 3D Kirk Shintani offers a complete breakdown how Elastic crafted this incredible intro, from the trial-by-fire process of the first season to the darker, edgier and more detailed version for the final series — and a special edition made from Oreos. Kirk discusses the fascinating technical aspects of shooting an animated digital miniature with virtual cameras, some of its clever design choices, as well as the crucial roles V-Ray and Chaos Group’s support have played in bringing the sequences to life.
'%3e %3cpath id='path4163_1_' class='st2' fill='%231A1F71' d='M-258.6-402.3l-4.8,22.5h-5.8l4.8-22.5H-258.6z M-234.1-387.9l3.1-8.4l1.7,8.4H-234.1z M-227.6-379.9h5.3l-4.6-22.5h-5c-1.2,0-2.1,0.7-2.4,1.7l-8.7,20.9h6.2l1.2-3.4h7.5C-228.5-383.3-227.6-379.9-227.6-379.9z M-242.9-387.3c0-6-8.2-6.3-8.2-8.9c0-0.9,0.9-1.7,2.4-1.9c0.9-0.2,3.1-0.2,5.7,1l1-4.8c-1.4-0.5-3.3-1-5.5-1 c-5.8,0-9.8,3.1-9.8,7.4c0,3.3,2.9,5,5.1,6.2c2.2,1,3.1,1.9,3.1,2.7c0,1.5-1.9,2.2-3.4,2.2c-2.9,0-4.6-0.9-6-1.4l-1,5 c1.4,0.7,3.9,1.2,6.5,1.2C-247-379.5-242.9-382.6-242.9-387.3 M-267-402.3l-9.4,22.5h-6.2l-4.6-18c-0.3-1-0.5-1.5-1.4-2.1 c-1.4-0.7-3.8-1.5-5.7-1.9l0.2-0.7h9.9c1.2,0,2.4,0.9,2.7,2.2l2.4,13l6-15.3h6V-402.3z'/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
;%7d .st2%7bfill:%23FFFFFF;%7d .st3%7bmask:url(%23bluebox-55x54-b_1_);fill:%23FFFFFF;%7d .st4%7bfilter:url(%23Adobe_OpacityMaskFilter_1_);%7d .st5%7bmask:url(%23bluebox-55x54-d_1_);fill:%23006FCF;%7d %3c/style%3e %3cg id='XMLID_60_'%3e %3cpolygon id='XMLID_58_' class='st0' fill='%23006FCF' points='0,0 0,60 60,60 60,32.7 60,0 '/%3e %3cg id='XMLID_61_' transform='translate(0 16.675)'%3e %3cdefs%3e %3cfilter id='Adobe_OpacityMaskFilter' filterUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x='0' y='1.9' width='60' height='24.6'%3e %3cfeColorMatrix type='matrix' values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0'/%3e %3c/filter%3e %3c/defs%3e %3cmask maskUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x='0' y='1.9' width='60' height='24.6' id='bluebox-55x54-b_1_'%3e %3cg id='XMLID_39_' class='st1' filter='url(%23Adobe_OpacityMaskFilter'%3e %3cpolygon id='bluebox-55x54-a_1_' class='st2' fill='%23FFFFFF' points='0,1.9 0,26.5 60,26.5 60,1.9 '/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/mask%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_89_' class='st3' fill='%23FFFFFF' mask='url(%23bluebox-55x54-b_1_)' d='M52.6,12.4h4.5V1.9h-4.8v1.7l-1.1-1.7h-4.2v2.1l-0.9-2.1h-6.9c-0.3,0-0.7,0-1,0.1 c-0.3,0-0.5,0.1-0.8,0.2c-0.2,0.1-0.4,0.1-0.6,0.2c-0.2,0.1-0.4,0.2-0.6,0.3V2.4V1.9H13.6L13,3.8l-0.6-1.8H7.1v2.1L6.2,1.9H1.9 L0,6.4v5.1v0.9h3l0.6-1.5h1.1l0.6,1.5h23.4v-1.5l1.2,1.5h6.5v-0.3v-0.4c0.2,0.1,0.3,0.2,0.5,0.3c0.2,0.1,0.4,0.2,0.5,0.2 c0.2,0.1,0.5,0.1,0.7,0.2c0.4,0.1,0.7,0.1,1.1,0.1H43l0.6-1.5h1.1l0.6,1.5h6.5v-1.6L52.6,12.4z M60,25.9V16h-0.5H22.8l-0.9,1.3 L20.9,16H10.2v10.5h10.7l0.9-1.4l1,1.4h6.7v-2.3h-0.1c0.8,0,1.6-0.1,2.3-0.4v2.7h4.7V25l1.2,1.5h20.2c0.6,0,1.1-0.1,1.6-0.3 C59.5,26.1,59.8,26,60,25.9z'/%3e %3cg id='XMLID_74_' transform='translate(10.3 14.223)'%3e %3cdefs%3e %3cfilter id='Adobe_OpacityMaskFilter_1_' filterUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x='1.5' y='3.5' width='48.2' height='7.1'%3e %3cfeColorMatrix type='matrix' values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0'/%3e %3c/filter%3e %3c/defs%3e %3cmask maskUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x='1.5' y='3.5' width='48.2' height='7.1' id='bluebox-55x54-d_1_'%3e %3cg id='XMLID_20_' class='st4' filter='url(%23Adobe_OpacityMaskFilter_1_)'%3e %3cpolygon id='bluebox-55x54-c_1_' class='st2' fill='%23FFFFFF' points='49.7,10.6 49.7,3.5 1.5,3.5 1.5,10.6 '/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/mask%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_77_' class='st5' fill='%23006FCF' mask='url(%23bluebox-55x54-d_1_)' d='M47.3,9.2h-3.6v1.4h3.6c1.5,0,2.4-0.9,2.4-2.3c0-1.3-0.8-2-2.2-2h-1.6 c-0.4,0-0.7-0.3-0.7-0.7c0-0.4,0.3-0.7,0.7-0.7H49l0.6-1.4H46c-1.5,0-2.4,0.9-2.4,2.2c0,1.3,0.9,2.1,2.2,2.1h1.6 C47.7,7.8,48,8,48,8.4C48,8.9,47.7,9.2,47.3,9.2z M40.6,9.2H37v1.4h3.6c1.5,0,2.4-0.9,2.4-2.3c0-1.3-0.8-2-2.2-2h-1.6 c-0.4,0-0.7-0.3-0.7-0.7c0-0.4,0.3-0.7,0.7-0.7h3.1l0.6-1.4h-3.6c-1.5,0-2.4,0.9-2.4,2.2c0,1.3,0.9,2.1,2.2,2.1h1.6 c0.4,0,0.7,0.3,0.7,0.7C41.3,8.9,41,9.2,40.6,9.2z M36,4.9V3.5h-5.7v7.1H36V9.2h-4V7.7h3.9V6.3H32V4.9H36z M26.5,5 c0.6,0,0.9,0.4,0.9,0.9c0,0.5-0.3,0.9-0.9,0.9h-2V5H26.5z M24.5,8h0.8l2.1,2.5h2.1L27.2,8c1.2-0.2,1.9-1.1,1.9-2.2 c0-1.3-0.9-2.2-2.4-2.2h-3.8v7.1h1.7V8z M20.2,5.9c0,0.5-0.3,0.9-0.9,0.9h-2V5h2C19.9,5,20.2,5.4,20.2,5.9z M15.5,3.5v7.1h1.7 V8.2h2.1c1.5,0,2.5-1,2.5-2.4c0-1.4-0.9-2.4-2.4-2.4H15.5z M13.1,10.6h2.1L12.3,7l2.8-3.5h-2.1l-1.7,2.2L9.6,3.5H7.5L10.3,7 l-2.8,3.5h2.1l1.7-2.3L13.1,10.6z M7.2,4.9V3.5H1.5v7.1h5.7V9.2h-4V7.7h3.9V6.3H3.2V4.9H7.2z'/%3e %3c/g%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_62_' class='st0' fill='%23006FCF' d='M50.3,6.5l0-0.6l0.4,0.6l2.7,4.2h2V3.6h-1.7v4.1l0,0.5l-0.3-0.5l-2.6-4.1h-2.1v7.1h1.7V6.5z M43.5,6.3L44,5l0.5,1.3l0.6,1.6h-2.3L43.5,6.3z M46.3,10.7h1.9l-3-7.1H43l-3,7.1h1.8l0.6-1.5h3.4L46.3,10.7z M38.9,10.7 L38.9,10.7l0.8-1.5h-0.5c-1.2,0-1.8-0.7-1.8-2V7.1c0-1.1,0.6-2,1.8-2H41V3.6h-2c-2.2,0-3.4,1.5-3.4,3.5v0.1 C35.7,9.3,36.9,10.7,38.9,10.7z M32.9,10.7h1.7V7.6v-4h-1.7v3.9V10.7z M29.3,5.1c0.6,0,0.9,0.4,0.9,0.9s-0.3,0.9-0.9,0.9h-2V5.1 H29.3z M27.3,8.2h0.8l2.1,2.5h2.1L30,8.1c1.2-0.2,1.9-1.1,1.9-2.2c0-1.3-0.9-2.2-2.4-2.2h-3.8v7.1h1.7V8.2z M24.4,5.1V3.6h-5.7 v7.1h5.7V9.3h-4V7.9h3.9V6.4h-3.9V5.1H24.4z M10.3,5.9l0-1.9l2,6.7h1.5l2-6.7l0,1.9v4.8h1.6V3.6h-3l-1.3,5l-1.4-5h-3v7.1h1.6V5.9z M3.6,6.3L4.1,5l0.5,1.3l0.6,1.6H3L3.6,6.3z M6.4,10.7h1.9l-3-7.1H3l-3,7.1h1.8l0.6-1.5h3.4L6.4,10.7z'/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
;%7d .st2%7bfill:url(%23SVGID_2_);%7d .st3%7bfill:url(%23SVGID_3_);%7d .st4%7bfill:url(%23SVGID_4_);%7d .st5%7bfill:url(%23SVGID_5_);%7d %3c/style%3e %3cg%3e %3cpath class='st0' d='M77.9,47.9c0,6.7-5.4,12.1-12.1,12.1H0V12.1C0,5.4,5.4,0,12.1,0h65.8V47.9z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='SVGID_1_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='-360.2888' y1='252.2589' x2='-359.4065' y2='252.2589' gradientTransform='matrix(24.2543 0 0 -15.022 8790.7773 3822.7673)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%23007940'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.2285' style='stop-color:%2300873F'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.7433' style='stop-color:%2340A737'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%235CB531'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3cpath class='st1' d='M56.5,35.6h5c0.1,0,0.5,0,0.6,0c1-0.2,1.8-1,1.8-2.2c0-1.1-0.8-2-1.8-2.2c-0.1,0-0.4,0-0.6,0h-5V35.6z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='SVGID_2_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='-366.4783' y1='259.7305' x2='-366.174' y2='259.7305' gradientTransform='matrix(70.2592 0 0 -170.7188 25800.6914 44370.9141)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%23007940'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.2285' style='stop-color:%2300873F'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.7433' style='stop-color:%2340A737'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%235CB531'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3cpath class='st2' d='M60.9,4c-4.8,0-8.7,3.9-8.7,8.7v9h12.2c0.3,0,0.6,0,0.9,0c2.8,0.1,4.8,1.6,4.8,4c0,2-1.4,3.6-4,4v0.1 c2.8,0.2,5,1.8,5,4.2c0,2.6-2.4,4.3-5.5,4.3H52.2V56h12.7c4.8,0,8.7-3.9,8.7-8.7V4H60.9L60.9,4z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='SVGID_3_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='-359.3954' y1='250.3555' x2='-358.4323' y2='250.3555' gradientTransform='matrix(22.22 0 0 -13.7702 8038.0117 3473.8174)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%23007940'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.2285' style='stop-color:%2300873F'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.7433' style='stop-color:%2340A737'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%235CB531'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3cpath class='st3' d='M63.2,26.4c0-1.1-0.8-1.9-1.8-2c-0.1,0-0.3,0-0.5,0h-4.5v4.2H61c0.1,0,0.4,0,0.5,0 C62.4,28.3,63.2,27.5,63.2,26.4L63.2,26.4z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='SVGID_4_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='-364.9196' y1='259.7295' x2='-364.6103' y2='259.7295' gradientTransform='matrix(70.2592 0 0 -170.5623 25643.2734 44330.0742)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%231F286F'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.4751' style='stop-color:%23004E94'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.8261' style='stop-color:%230066B1'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%23006FBC'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3cpath class='st4' d='M13,4c-4.8,0-8.7,3.9-8.7,8.7v21.4c2.4,1.2,5,2,7.5,2c3,0,4.6-1.8,4.6-4.3V21.7h7.4v10c0,3.9-2.4,7.1-10.7,7.1 c-5,0-8.9-1.1-8.9-1.1V56H17c4.8,0,8.7-3.9,8.7-8.7V4H13L13,4z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='SVGID_5_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='-365.7028' y1='259.7315' x2='-365.4024' y2='259.7315' gradientTransform='matrix(70.2592 0 0 -170.8753 25722.1387 44411.7539)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%236C2C2F'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.1735' style='stop-color:%23882730'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.5731' style='stop-color:%23BE1833'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.8585' style='stop-color:%23DC0436'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%23E60039'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3cpath class='st5' d='M37,4c-4.8,0-8.7,3.9-8.7,8.7V24c2.2-1.9,6-3,12.1-2.8c3.3,0.1,6.8,1,6.8,1V26c-1.8-0.9-3.9-1.7-6.6-1.9 c-4.7-0.3-7.5,2-7.5,6c0,4,2.8,6.3,7.5,6c2.7-0.2,4.8-1,6.6-1.9v3.7c0,0-3.5,0.9-6.8,1c-6.1,0.3-10-0.9-12.1-2.8v20H41 c4.8,0,8.7-3.9,8.7-8.7V4H37L37,4z'/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
;%7d .st4%7bopacity:0.65;fill:url(%23XMLID_4_);enable-background:new ;%7d %3c/style%3e %3cg id='XMLID_432_'%3e %3c/g%3e %3cg%3e %3cpolygon id='XMLID_428_' class='st0' points='0.3,0.4 93.4,0.4 93.4,59.7 0.3,59.7 '/%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_427_' class='st1' d='M93.1,33.3c0,0-25.4,17.9-72,26h72V33.3z'/%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_2_' class='st2' d='M93.4,0H0v60h93.8V0L93.4,0L93.4,0z M93.1,0.7c0,0.7,0,58,0,58.6c-0.7,0-91.8,0-92.4,0 c0-0.7,0-58,0-58.6C1.4,0.7,92.4,0.7,93.1,0.7z'/%3e %3cpath class='st2' d='M8.2,18.4H4.3v13.6h3.9c2,0,3.5-0.5,4.8-1.6c1.6-1.3,2.5-3.2,2.5-5.2C15.5,21.2,12.5,18.4,8.2,18.4z M11.3,28.6c-0.8,0.7-1.9,1.1-3.6,1.1H7v-9h0.7c1.7,0,2.7,0.3,3.6,1.1c0.9,0.8,1.5,2.1,1.5,3.4C12.8,26.5,12.2,27.8,11.3,28.6z'/%3e %3crect id='XMLID_422_' x='16.7' y='18.4' class='st2' width='2.6' height='13.6'/%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_421_' class='st2' d='M25.8,23.6c-1.6-0.6-2-1-2-1.7c0-0.9,0.8-1.5,2-1.5c0.8,0,1.5,0.3,2.1,1.1l1.4-1.8 c-1.1-1-2.5-1.5-4-1.5c-2.4,0-4.2,1.7-4.2,3.9c0,1.9,0.9,2.8,3.3,3.7c1,0.4,1.6,0.6,1.8,0.8c0.5,0.3,0.8,0.8,0.8,1.4 c0,1.1-0.9,1.9-2,1.9c-1.3,0-2.3-0.6-2.9-1.8l-1.7,1.7c1.2,1.8,2.7,2.6,4.7,2.6c2.7,0,4.7-1.8,4.7-4.5 C29.7,25.7,28.8,24.7,25.8,23.6z'/%3e %3cpath id='XMLID_420_' class='st2' d='M30.6,25.2c0,4,3.1,7.1,7.2,7.1c1.1,0,2.1-0.2,3.3-0.8v-3.1c-1.1,1.1-2,1.5-3.2,1.5 c-2.7,0-4.6-1.9-4.6-4.7c0-2.6,1.9-4.7,4.4-4.7c1.3,0,2.2,0.4,3.3,1.5v-3.1c-1.2-0.6-2.1-0.8-3.3-0.8 C33.8,18.1,30.6,21.2,30.6,25.2z'/%3e %3cpolygon id='XMLID_419_' class='st2' points='62,27.5 58.4,18.4 55.5,18.4 61.3,32.3 62.7,32.3 68.6,18.4 65.7,18.4 '/%3e %3cpolygon id='XMLID_418_' class='st2' points='69.8,31.9 77.3,31.9 77.3,29.6 72.4,29.6 72.4,26 77.1,26 77.1,23.7 72.4,23.7 72.4,20.7 77.3,20.7 77.3,18.4 69.8,18.4 '/%3e %3cpath class='st2' d='M87.8,22.4c0-2.5-1.8-4-4.8-4H79V32h2.6v-5.5H82l3.7,5.5h3.3l-4.3-5.7C86.7,25.8,87.8,24.5,87.8,22.4z M82.4,24.6h-0.8v-4.1h0.8c1.7,0,2.5,0.7,2.5,2C85,23.9,84.1,24.6,82.4,24.6z'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='XMLID_3_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='52.8364' y1='-8.0135' x2='47.8375' y2='-15.8403' gradientTransform='matrix(1 0 0 1 0 39)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%23F89F20'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.2502' style='stop-color:%23F79A20'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.5331' style='stop-color:%23F68D20'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.6196' style='stop-color:%23F58720'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.7232' style='stop-color:%23F48120'/%3e %3cstop offset='1' style='stop-color:%23F37521'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3ccircle id='XMLID_415_' class='st3' cx='49.1' cy='25.2' r='7.2'/%3e %3clinearGradient id='XMLID_4_' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' x1='52.0472' y1='-8.1188' x2='44.7411' y2='-22.3989' gradientTransform='matrix(1 0 0 1 0 39)'%3e %3cstop offset='0' style='stop-color:%23F58720'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.3587' style='stop-color:%23E16F27'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.703' style='stop-color:%23D4602C'/%3e %3cstop offset='0.9816' style='stop-color:%23D05B2E'/%3e %3c/linearGradient%3e %3ccircle id='XMLID_414_' class='st4' cx='49.1' cy='25.2' r='7.2'/%3e %3cg id='XMLID_436_'%3e %3cpath class='st2' d='M89.4,18.9c0-0.2-0.2-0.4-0.4-0.4h-0.4v1.2h0.3v-0.5l0.3,0.5h0.3l-0.4-0.5C89.3,19.2,89.4,19.1,89.4,18.9z M89,19.1L89,19.1l0-0.3h0c0.1,0,0.2,0,0.2,0.1C89.2,19,89.1,19.1,89,19.1z'/%3e %3cpath class='st2' d='M89,18.1c-0.6,0-1,0.5-1,1s0.5,1,1,1c0.6,0,1-0.5,1-1S89.6,18.1,89,18.1z M89,20c-0.4,0-0.8-0.4-0.8-0.9 c0-0.5,0.4-0.9,0.8-0.9c0.4,0,0.8,0.4,0.8,0.9C89.9,19.6,89.5,20,89,20z'/%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
