How was this rain (or snow) effect in old school animation done? And how can I pull it off in Davinci?
21 comments · 87% upvoted · source · other discussions
comments
EggyT0ast
PrimevilKneivel
In fusion you can add a layer of particles over the shot. Ideally you want to add several layers of different sizes to create the illusion of depth. Depending on your shot you may want to mask some of the far BG layers so they fall behind objects in the scene. Then adjust opacity and blend modes.
Traditionally in 2D this would have been painted on cels that were overlayed on the stack of cells used in the animation.
One_Number_809 [OP]
how? I can't find particles in Fusion's search tab.
FoldableHuman
Look up particles in the manual, it’ll walk you through the system.
pEmitter and pRender are the core nodes.
yratof
This isn’t a resolve question really. You would just draw rain in three frames, then import as a loop sequence and overlay it.
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BulletCatofBrooklyn
Actually, in the second example you can see how it’s a handful of looped frames. Focus on one spot and you’ll notice the same shapes of snow coming back around and around
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BulletCatofBrooklyn
Yes, thank you. That is technically true. Good job. But I still think “Every single drop” Is overstating it a bit when it’s a handful of frames drawn once and looped. But I’m being pedantic.
Regardless. I was mostly using your comment as a jumping off point to note an interesting thing about the animation technique.
One_Number_809 [OP]
So. the realistic rain was animated frame by frame? Nah stop cappin. (although in some animated media, the effects are fully animated) I've seen the same realistic rain overlays in countless live action films from the 40s and 50s as well. Aren't you sure the other method was some sort of fake rain filmed in live action and it was just overlayed on these films in the editing process?
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One_Number_809 [OP]
Bot? lol. I'm (not lying I promise) not a bot in any way. I was just joking when I said "stop cappin" It was "one of the answers" they gave me. I mean I'm fine with that same answer but It was just a joke man. But thank you.
Update: so I finally realized. I know the rain is hand drawn, but It's rotoscoped. interesting...
FoldableHuman
I know the rain is hand drawn, but It's rotoscoped. interesting...
No it’s not.
Rain is not hard to paint.
Also the rain in B&tB is far more stylized than you remember.
Stooovie
Studios like Disney had a big special effects departments that did precisely this - particle effects, rain, water, pixie dust, explosions... Watch Dumbo and get blown away.
MungBeanRegatta
FFS…. A basic search on YT and all is revealed… https://youtu.be/vzv3GC6UNgc?si=j_BVM6IYilhNjxi9
One_Number_809 [OP]
Yeah, I‘ve already tried it a few days ago and it’s pretty accurate. Took a long time to render though.
ColdEngineBadBrakes
They hired a weather witch. Everyone knows that.
One_Number_809 [OP]
Lmao. You won the Internet for today lol
ColdEngineBadBrakes
Academy Award please
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Evildude42
Poo is just some rain in a masked window. The second is cell painted by a craftsman/artist.
Often, this was done by layering a painted or scratched layer. You can see this more clearly in your 2nd example where there is animated snow, but then also the general "effect" snow. A layer of hand painted snow as "pure white" over top of otherwise clear film would look like snow.
In any modern tool, you'd take the same approach: transparent clip with animaged "snow noise" and it layers on the actual clips you want the snow to appear.
One_Number_809 [OP] -16 points · Jan 2026
But what about realistic looking rain. Like the rain from Beauty and the Beast.
How can i pull that off with modern software?
FoldableHuman 18 points · Jan 2026 · Studio
The rain in B&tB is done the same way, just with more layers to create depth.