Simulating scale in 3D digital animation presents strict physical trade-offs. When objects are enormous, real-world physics dictate that they move with visible inertia and sluggishness. If an animator accelerates a giant character too quickly, the brain registers the subject as a miniature model rather than a colossal titan.
DreamWorks supervising animators solved this dilemma by treating the cars as shock absorbers and skate chassis simultaneously. Every time Susan pushes off the pavement, the suspension systems of the two sedans compress violently. Tires blow out, metal chassis spark against the concrete, and rear axles buckle under the weight of her estimated 15,000-pound frame.
The accompanying team provides comedic counterweight. The Missing Link (voiced by Will Arnett) attempts brute-force brawling only to get swatted aside instantly. B.O.B. (Seth Rogen), an indestructible gelatinous mass without a brain, treats the deadly pursuit as a recreational outing. Their failure leaves Susan completely isolated in her physical confrontation with the probe, forcing her to lean into her physical mass rather than run from it.
