Actualy, a pseudo-morphing software is used for the z-axis displacement in terms of the crawly-skin effects.
The bursting is merely a combo of 3d and 2d element composites.
The morphing/displacement software most often used in recent features is called:
Elastic Reality.
Avid has discontinued the software, though it is still WIDELY used today
Israel "Izzy" Long
Motion and Title Design for Broadcast-Film-DS
izzylong.com