A cherished California landmark, Ms. Blue, the massive blue whale skeleton at UC Santa Cruz’s Seymour Marine Discovery Center, faced disappearance after nearly 25 years of environmental wear. But her legacy is now secured through a revolutionary project led by elite Hollywood VFX studio Halon Entertainment, demonstrating a powerful new approach to preserving natural history.
Rejecting traditional methods, the Seymour Center partnered with Halon, who deployed one of the world’s most precise LiDAR scanners, the Leica RTC360 from Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, to capture Ms. Blue’s over 300 bones in stunning detail. This intricate scan created a photorealistic digital replica, forming the foundation for both preservation and innovative education.
The digital twin enabled the development of an interactive app featuring animated lessons and an augmented reality experience, allowing visitors to see Ms. Blue vividly brought back to life. Simultaneously, the high-resolution data guided a physical restoration, including sustainable 3D printed bone replacements made from recycled materials and repairs using a unique putty derived from shrimp shells.
“Ms. Blue has become a cultural landmark, and when it looked like she was going to disappear, there was a very real sense of loss from the community,” stated Executive Director Jonathan Hicken, praising Halon’s comprehensive digital and educational solution.
Jess Marley, Halon VFX supervisor, expressed pride that the project, utilizing tools from blockbuster VFX, will “help to educate thousands of people… and possibly inspire a new generation of marine enthusiasts.” This pioneering effort ensures Ms. Blue remains an inspiring and educational treasure.