We were approached by Montefiore to create this whimsical adventure around NYC. With a tight schedule and an important message to deliver, we were able to bring a little boy's dreams to life. From conceptualizing to creating the magic, we worked to find the perfect balance of playfulness versus realism. The pressure of doing justice to this film inspired us to do our best work, immersing the viewer in Solo's world and evoking an emotional response.

The film's CG visual effects featured a Macy's Day style balloon for Dog and friends, maintaining realistic scale and incorporating visible aids for disabilities. Close-up shots utilized a practical rig, while CG assets matched the look of Macy's Day balloons. The balloons were rigged with additional movements for realism and childlike fun. Other CG assets included digi doubles, the balloon gang, and a squirrel on the nut truck. The truck scene required iterations for a cartoony feel. Nighttime and high-in-the-sky lighting challenges were addressed using HDRIs, lidar data, and moonlight.

The 2D effects focused on enhancing realism and seamless integration. The dog balloon interacted with the environment, and close-up shots were done on a blue screen. Relighting was done to match different environments and create the impression of flying on the dog balloon. The environment lighting was adjusted to simulate sunlight peeking through, transforming night shots into dawn scenes.