Large-scale destruction shots are rarely built from a single solver. Sequences like ship explosions or structural collapse become an exercise in orchestration, layering MPM deformation, rigid-body destruction, pyro, particles, soft-body systems, and fluid interaction into a single cohesive event that feels both cinematic and physically grounded.
In our latest course, Pirate Ship Destruction Workshop Part 1: FX Simulation, Ganesh Lakshmigandan breaks down the layered Houdini workflows behind building a large-scale cinematic destruction sequence.
Across nine classes, the course builds the sequence step by step, exploring workflows for large-scale hull destruction, secondary rigid-body simulation, pyro blasts, vellum rope and cloth setups, FLIP ocean interaction, whitewater, and layered debris effects.
HOU245 is the first instalment in this two-part pirate ship destruction series, with Part 2 scheduled to launch in early June 2026.
A Multi-Solver Houdini FX Workflow
One of the core goals of HOU245 is to explore how different Houdini solvers interact within a large-scale cinematic destruction shot. Throughout the course, artists work through:
- MPM-driven hull destruction
- RBD secondary destruction workflows
- Particle-based splinter and debris simulation
- Pyro explosions and smoke interaction
- Rope and cloth simulation using Vellum
- Ocean interaction using FLIP fluids
- Whitewater and secondary splash effects
Instead of treating each effect as an isolated simulation, the course focuses on building interconnected FX layers that work together as a unified sequence. The result is a production-oriented approach to cinematic destruction work inside Houdini.
About the Professor
Ganesh Lakshmigandan brings extensive production experience to the course, with credits on major productions including Avatar: The Way of Water, House of the Dragon, Dune: Part One, The Jungle Book, and Dunkirk. His experience across large-scale destruction, environmental FX, simulation workflows, and cinematic shot production informs the production-focused approach used throughout the course.
Now available as part of an fxphd Membership. View the course description and class breakdown here: Pirate Ship Destruction Workshop Part 1: FX Simulation