 From the motion capture, Smaug's design was created with key frame animation.Weta Digital employed its proprietary "Tissue" software, which was honoured in 2013 with a "Scientific and Engineering Award" from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to make the dragon as realistic as possible.In addition, Weta Digital supervisor Joe Letteri said in an interview for "USA Today" that they used classic European and Asian dragons as inspirations to create Smaug.