Unreal Fest Chicago 2026 is on the horizon! Join Framestore in the Windy City as Unreal Fest celebrates the Epic community, showcases innovative projects, dives into new features and technology, and shares what’s next for Unreal Engine and the Epic ecosystem.
When Mascots Go Live: Converting the GEICO Gecko to Real-Time
15:00 CDT 17th June
For two decades, the GEICO Gecko has existed and developed at the highest end of the traditional CG pipeline: crafted for broadcast commercials where quality is paramount and render time is secondary. In this session, VFX studio Framestore pulls back the curtain on how that iconic character is being re-engineered for a realtime future.
Framestore converted the Gecko from a classic rendered asset into a fully optimized, high-fidelity real-time character powered by Unreal Engine, without sacrificing the nuance, personality, or polish audiences expect. The talk walks through the full character progression: from model optimization to refining animation systems and adapting shading and lighting for real-time performance.
Grounded in artistry as much as technology, the session highlights how creative decisions evolve when characters need to perform live, interactively, and at speed. Ultimately, this case study illustrates how Unreal Engine is expanding what’s possible for brand characters, unlocking faster production, new forms of engagement, and a future where high-quality digital mascots are no longer confined to linear content.
Meet the Speaker
Kamila Bianchi | Senior Technical Animator
Kamila is a Senior Technical Animator at Framestore, where she bridges the gap between rigging and animation across traditional offline pipelines and Unreal Engine workflows. Since joining the studio in January 2022, she has contributed to high-profile projects including the ‘Heineken Silver’ campaign and develops Unreal tools for animation and rigging.
Before joining Framestore, Kamila worked at Ninja Theory as a Technical Artist/Rigger, contributing to titles such as Bleeding Edge and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. There, she was responsible for rigging and integrating game characters while continuing to expand her technical and creative skill set.
Kamila graduated from the University of Bournemouth with a Master’s degree in 3D Animation.