Pan's Labyrinth Style Transitions

Hey guys,

I've been attempting to do transitions similar to the ones used in Pan's Labyrinth, where the camera tracks around a dark object, such as a tree or the backside of a mirror, and by the time it comes around the other side of the original object, it's transitioned to a new tree or mirror and we're in a new shot seamlessly. This can be done rather crudely with a simple wipe. I was wondering if there was a better way to do them, a way that would work with uneven surfaces such as gnarled tress. Would this be better done in a program like shake or flame, or is it possible with FCP?

Thanks.

Andrew Gregg
Director
LiveABC Productions
Taipei, Taiwan