VFXWorld Magazine

Return to Middle-earth VFXWorld

Crafting Tolkien’s Vision: Creating Epic VFX for ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2

VFX supervisor Jason Smith and his bevy of VFX studios, including ILM, DNEG, and Rodeo FX, delivered roughly 8,000 visual effects shots including Ents, a Balrog, Barrow-wights, Shelob, and the Elven forge, on the sophomore outing of Prime Video’s return to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth.

Pioneers in Hypersonic Flight VFXWorld

Pushing to the ‘Edge of Space’ with Jean de Meuron and VFX Los Angeles

The filmmaker shares how his short film brings the historic 1961 X-15 test flights to life through the innovative use of visual effects, blending authentic details with creative cinematography to explore the spirit of innovation and human perseverance that ultimately led to the first U.S. human lunar landing in 1969.

TV is Healing Headline News

TV Academy, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to Share Members

In a groundbreaking new partnership, the former rivals will now share members in the peer groups Children’s Animation, Children’s Live Action, Daytime, and Documentary.

The Annies are Coming! Headline News

52nd Annual Annie Award Nominations Announced

By Dan Sarto | Friday, December 20, 2024 at 8:31am

Best Animated Feature nominees ‘Inside Out 2,’ ‘Kung Fu Panda 4,’ ‘That Christmas,’ ‘The Wild Robot,’ ‘Ultraman: Rising,’ and ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ top the expansive list of category nominations; animation’s biggest awards ceremony is scheduled to return live on Saturday, February 8 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

5DX for the Holidays Headline News

DREAMBOX360º Launches ‘A Christmas Dream’ 5D Projection Experience

The immersive event aims to bring the magic of the holidays to life with 5DX experiences, such as cutting-edge projection visuals, sound, and special effects.

Business Headline News

Apple TV+ Renews ‘Silo’ for 2 More Seasons

The fourth and final season of the sci-fi drama will complete the adaptation of Hugh Howey’s book trilogy; project stars and is executive produced by Rebecca Ferguson and created by Graham Yost.

On the Road to the Oscars Headline News

Academy Announces Shortlists in 10 Categories for 97th Oscars

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 11:38am

VFX category narrowed down to 10 films, animated shorts to 15; voting for nominations runs next month, January 8-12, with nomination announcements set for January 17, 2025.

Clayface Shifts into Theaters Headline News

DC Studios Greenlights ‘Clayface’ Feature

Mike Flanagan is penning the script while the hunt for a director is underway; plot details have not been revealed for the film which features the shapeshifting Batman villain last seen in Max’s animated ‘Harley Quinn’ series.

Honoring the Best in Kids and Family TV Animation Headline News

3rd Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards Nominees Announced

Noms go to a slew of great animation in kids’ programming including the popular ‘Blue’s Clues & You!’ preschool series, Nick’s ‘The Tiny Chef Show,’ and Disney+’s hit ‘Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur;’ awards ceremony slated for March 15, 2025.

Ultraman Returns ANIMATIONWorld

‘Ultraman: Rising’: Achieving the Perfect Lens Flare and Ken Sato Hairdo

ILM VFX supervisor Hayden Jones reveals how his team merged anime styling with cutting-edge visuals including hand-drawn transitions and ‘Akira’-inspired lens flares to create a love letter to classic manga.

Awards Headline News

75th Annual ACE Eddie Awards Nominees Revealed

By Dan Sarto | Friday, December 13, 2024 at 11:02am

‘Flow,’ ‘Inside Out 2,’ ‘Moana 2,’ ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl,’ and ‘The Wild Robot’ are nominated in the best edited animated features category; winners for outstanding editing will be announced at the January 18 awards ceremony.

Honoring Excellence in Visual Effects Headline News

Hiroyuki Sanada, Takashi Yamazaki Receive Special VES Awards

Actor/producer Sanada is honored with the VES Award for Creative Excellence, while FX supervisor/filmmaker Yamazaki receives the VES Visionary Award; both will be presented at the 23rd Annual VES Awards on February 11, 2025.

The Increasing Need for Entertainment Content ANIMATIONWorld

Helping Artists and Studios Deliver in an Increasingly Competitive M&E Landscape

By Dan Sarto | Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 4:26pm

For Rob Hoffman, Lenovo’s Senior Worldwide Manager for Media & Entertainment Vertical, insatiable consumer appetite for new experiences across film, TV, games and interactive experiences, in greater quantity with increasing fidelity, means, the future of entertainment content development continues to look strong.  

Listen Up DC Fans Headline News

DC, DC Studios, Max Team to Launch ‘DC Studios Showcase: The Official Podcast’

Hosts Frankey Smith & Tyler Coates, with comic correspondent Coy Jandreau, break down the latest on all things DC and DC Studios in the unscripted video podcast series.

Professional Animation Tools Even Beginners Can Master VFXWorld

VFX Studio Filmworks/FX Transforms Virtual Production with iClone & Unreal

Led by industry veteran Ken Locsmandi, the boutique visual effects company has been revolutionizing filmmaking through its virtual production pipeline that uses iClone and Unreal Engine to produce high quality, cost-effective animation.

Awards Headline News

52nd Annual Saturn Awards Nominees Announced

This year’s Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films ceremony will be held on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Los Angeles; will stream live on ElectricNOW and The Roku Channel for free.

Awards Headline News

82nd Golden Globe Awards Nominations Announced

By Dan Sarto | Monday, December 9, 2024 at 10:22am

‘The Wild Robot’ scores nods in best animated motion picture, best original score, best original song, and best cinematic achievement, while ‘Flow,’ ‘Inside Out 2,’ ‘Memoir of a Snail,’ ‘Moana 2,’ and ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ are also nominated for best animated motion picture; winners will be announced at an awards ceremony January 5, 2025 live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

We’re Suckers for Octopus Stories Headline News

Disney Releases Taika Waititi’s ‘The Boy & The Octopus’ BTS Look

Go behind-the-scenes with the director of the holiday short, now streaming on YouTube, that follows the journey of a child who discovers a curious octopus attached to his head during a family vacation.

Honoring VFX Pioneers Headline News

Dr. Jacquelyn Ford Morie to Receive VES’ Georges Méliès Award

The acclaimed virtual reality/immersive technology pioneer will be presented with the award at the 23rd Annual VES Awards on February 11, 2025, at The Beverly Hilton hotel.

Heading to Stuttgart Headline News

FMX Drops 2025 Conference Trailer

Created by Samuel Lewek and his team at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, ‘Dancing in Norms’ reflects the upcoming event’s ‘Rhythm of Change’ theme; ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 is first confirmed presentation.

People Headline News

Adrian Rashad Driscoll Joins RADiCAL Advisory Board

The teacher and EAST Initiative advocate plans to promote RADiCAL’s mission of democratizing content creation by empowering young people in underprivileged and under-represented communities via emerging technologies.

Awards Headline News

‘Tabby McTat,’ ‘La Vida Secreta de tu Mente’ Nab International Emmy Awards

The CG animated film, which follows a busker and his cat, won Best Kids Animation; Warner Bros. Discovery’s animated series aimed at solving the greatest mystery in the universe nabbed the Kids: Factual & Entertainment award.

We Marvel at This Collection Headline News

Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum Present ‘Marvel Unforgettable Stories’

The pair have curated 10 Marvel comics into one, 280-page collectible hardcover collection, now on sale from The Folio Society; 100 signed copies are also now available.

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