CN Tower Destruction
Destroying an Icon, Solo
For my Capstone at Humber College’s 3D Modelling and VFX program, I set out to do what no one had done before: destroy the CN Tower. While many global landmarks have met their cinematic fate, Toronto’s iconic tower hadn’t, until now. The challenge was to create a high-impact VFX sequence, entirely solo, that balanced technical precision with cinematic drama.
The Creative Solution
Blockbuster-Style Alien Invasion
I developed a sci-fi narrative in which an alien ship targets the CN Tower. This setup enabled me to demonstrate a full range of VFX skills, from concept to compositing. The scene combined 3D modelling, Houdini destruction simulations, and integration into real-world footage I captured myself, delivering a bold, movie-style moment on a student production scale.
The Execution
VFX Pipeline, from Start to Finish
As the sole artist, I handled every step of the pipeline:
3D Modelling: Designed, modelled, and textured a detailed alien spaceship in 3ds Max, with a focus on cinematic impact.
Simulation & Animation: Used Houdini to simulate the CN Tower’s destruction and animate the spaceship’s attack sequence.
Tracking & Compositing: Removed the real CN Tower using Nuke and composited all CG elements into live-action footage with full camera tracking.
The Outcome
A Bold Capstone and a Valuable Detour
This project let me step outside my motion design career to explore the full VFX pipeline in a hands-on, cinematic way. Though I’ve worked as a motion designer since 2008, creating a complete VFX sequence solo deepened my technical skills and still informs my work today. I graduated with High Honours from Humber College in 2019 and now have the pleasure of teaching in the Motion Graphics program at Conestoga College alongside my former Houdini professor.