Candy Crush: Simulating Crystal Growth in Avatar: The Last Airbender

Crystals erupt from the ground, surrounding Aang in seconds. To bring this moment to life in Avatar: The Last Airbender, we developed a custom, art-directable crystal growth system built in Houdini that could integrate seamlessly with actors and plates. Designed to support extreme speed, flexible timing, and creative direction, the system enabled us to emphasize the scene's intensity while adhering to the look and logic of real-world crystals.