From Bones to Dust: Particle Disintegration in Houdini (January 26, 2026, 5 Days)

Categories: Houdini

About Course

From Bones to Dust – Full Overview – English version

From Bones to Dust – Full Overview – German version

Experience how real studios craft complex FX shots from start to finish.
In this production-based Houdini course, you’ll learn how to design cinematic disintegration effects that fuse seamlessly with real footage. From preparing Alembic files to building animated emitters and dynamic environments, you’ll follow the same logic and techniques used in professional pipelines.
This is not just about particles – it’s about storytelling through destruction and control.
Short, focused, and results-driven – you’ll finish with a fully cinematic shot ready 
for your portfolio.

Daily Schedule

*Course descriptions are subject to change as the software evolves and new tools are introduced, ensuring that our course content remains current and accurately reflects the latest updates.

*Die Kursbeschreibungen können sich ändern, wenn sich die Software weiterentwickelt und neue Tools hinzukommen, sodass unsere Kursinhalte stets aktuell bleiben und die neuesten Updates widerspiegeln.

What Will You Learn?

  • Preparing mesh with animations for simulation in Houdini
  • Recreating realistic environments (e.g. snow surface) using curves for seamless FX integration
  • Creating animated emitters and integrating them with the environment
  • Simulating a skeleton disintegration where the body vanishes and transforms into drifting ash-like particles

Course Content

Day 1 – Kickoff
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” - Albert Einstein …especially when Houdini crashes and imagination is all you have left. Welcome to the course!

  • From Bones to Dust: Particle Disintegration in Houdini, Day 1

Day 2 – Creativity Boost
“Creativity is intelligence having fun.” - Albert Einstein So if your simulation explodes unexpectedly today… congratulations, your intelligence is having a lot of fun.

Day 3 – Technical Motivation
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” - Dalai Lama Just like small parameter tweaks can completely break your scene. Power comes in tiny values!

Day 4 – FX Spirit
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” - Nelson Mandela Like that render that said “2 hours remaining”… for 19 hours. Keep going - you’re almost there!

Day 5 – Farewell Day
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” - Steve Jobs And if you love CGI and VFX, you’re officially doomed (in a good way). Keep creating magic - and don’t forget to bring snacks to your next render marathon.

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