Following the success of I Am Groot: Season 1, Luma was invited back to collaborate with Director Kirsten Lepore to craft four captivating new shorts that propel Groot on an exhilarating journey through the universe and beyond. In this latest instalment, Groot takes center stage as he embarks on cosmic adventures aboard the Guardians' spaceship, encountering novel creatures and immersive environments that both challenge and nurture his growth. Whether he's rubbing shoulders with the Watcher, discovering the importance of personal hygiene, reveling in the joys of parenthood, or chasing after a fleeting ice-cream truck, Groot's escapades are a playful delight.

Luma created four shorts, "Are You My Groot?", "Groot Noses Around", "Groot's Sweet Treat", and "Groot and the Great Prophecy", during an 11-month production period. The team was led by VFX Supervisor Alex Cancado, Animation Supervisor Raphael A. Pimentel, and VFX Producer Adam Goins.

Are You My Groot?

In the opening episode, Groot stumbles across a strange egg in a nest while exploring the alien planet of Terma. He instantly falls for the little creature that emerges when the egg cracks, adopting it as his own. Luma collaborated closely with Kirsten Lepore to establish the ugly-cute character design of the baby birds and Mama Bird through developing unique concept art. “We started by looking at different types of birds to get ideas during the planning stage,” explained Alex Cancado. “Kirsten chose the best features from these birds, and then we played around with the shapes and forms to create pleasing silhouettes. Our aim was to make them adorable and playful, with a touch of silliness that felt just right.” The character design served as inspiration for our animators to come up with their quirky movement and goofy personalities.

The Mama Bird creature required a unique blend of feathers and fur. “We wanted the Mama Bird to feel big while remaining invitingly cozy for her little ones to cuddle,” Alex continued. “To get that look just right, we even turned to photos of one of our dogs as a reference for her chest fur. It was all about finding that perfect balance.”

Groot Noses Around

When Groot discovers a bionic nose-shaped device that grants him a sense of smell, he quickly learns not to stick his new nose where it doesn’t belong. A key environment in this episode is Groot’s cluttered and chaotic room.  “Creating Groot's room was a fun process,” recalled Alex. “We began by referencing original photos of Groot's room from Guardians of the Galaxy to draw  inspiration. We used that as a starting point, and from there, we infused things like a bean bag, TV, and remote control to tell our story. Each of these items was designed with the MCU and Groot's previous adventures in mind.” All the details, including the trash, were thoughtfully considered as an important part of the story. “We had to make it look untidy, but it also needed to tell us about Groot—what he eats, what surrounds him, and what items are part of his life. Every piece of junk was carefully chosen to look messy while simultaneously contributing to Groot’s story.”

Groot's Sweet Treat

As an intergalactic ice cream truck approaches, Groot—desperate to get a treat— frantically scours the ship for coins. The ice cream truck was a major asset that played multiple roles in the story—a vehicle, prop, environment, and even a character of its own. “When we began designing it early on, we had no clue just how much this piece would express and do,” recalled Alex.  To streamline our creative process, we segmented the design into two key elements: the truck itself and the signs, knowing from the start that the signs played  a significant role in the story. This strategic approach accelerated our work, allowing us to seamlessly fuse these components later on.“ To create the design and appearance of the truck, we drew inspiration from various sources, ranging from MCU spaceships and previous Marvel settings to the lively LA food trucks and the charm of farmers markets. It was about blending all these elements to craft something truly special.”

Throughout the episode, Groot experiences a wide range of emotions, and it was up to our animators to bring his nuanced thoughts and feelings to life through his facial expression and body performance. Animators had the opportunity to put themselves in Groot's shoes and drew inspiration from their childhood whenever they could, often filming their own performances as reference.

Groot and the Great Prophecy

In this adventure narrated by The Watcher, Groot finds himself in the heart of an ancient Drez-Lar temple with a mythic prophecy he must fulfill to save the universe. The inclusion of a character as significant as The Watcher was a decision we approached with great reverence. Our aim was to imbue him with an awe-inspiring sense of power, all the while allowing him to share lighthearted and comedic moments with Groot.

For the intricate Drez-Lare Temple environment, our design process took inspiration from Indiana Jones and Guardians of the Galaxy. We began with simple shape and lighting tests to set the tone of the story. The gargoyle was a crucial piece and held a central place in the temple, conveying its own story while also influencing the overall environment. "The trickiest part of this episode was the lava and its destructive effects. We aimed for a realistic look while maintaining the design style consistent with the rest of the show,” explained Alex. “Our team developed various tools to create Houdini simulations that allowed us to quickly experiment with different viscosity levels and heat properties until we found the right speed, thickness, color, and overall appearance that Kirsten was happy with. It all came together and worked seamlessly throughout the sequence.”