Top 10 Landmark CGI Movie Effects

this technology is meant to expand human

this technology is meant to expand human communication but you know who better or

communication but you know who better or

communication but you know who better or for worse

for worse

for worse CGI wouldn’t be everywhere without these

CGI wouldn’t be everywhere without these

CGI wouldn’t be everywhere without these trendsetters

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down the top ten landmark

be counting down the top ten landmark

be counting down the top ten landmark cgi movie effects just to keep this list

cgi movie effects just to keep this list

cgi movie effects just to keep this list practical we’re only considering effects

practical we’re only considering effects

practical we’re only considering effects that are considered groundbreaking and

that are considered groundbreaking and

that are considered groundbreaking and astonishing for their time while

astonishing for their time while

astonishing for their time while excluding fully animated movies like Toy

excluding fully animated movies like Toy

excluding fully animated movies like Toy Story oh and Finity and beyond yes

Story oh and Finity and beyond yes

Story oh and Finity and beyond yes Father

Father

Father my tip from Tia grosbeak oh by the mole

my tip from Tia grosbeak oh by the mole

my tip from Tia grosbeak oh by the mole number 10 goodbye miniatures The Last

number 10 goodbye miniatures The Last

number 10 goodbye miniatures The Last Starfighter The Last Starfighter is dead

Starfighter The Last Starfighter is dead

Starfighter The Last Starfighter is dead booting up our list is the

booting up our list is the

booting up our list is the groundbreaking film that was the first

groundbreaking film that was the first

groundbreaking film that was the first to ditch miniature models in exchange

to ditch miniature models in exchange

to ditch miniature models in exchange for computer animation used for the

for computer animation used for the

for computer animation used for the vehicles spaceships and planet shots

vehicles spaceships and planet shots

vehicles spaceships and planet shots the effects were blended with

the effects were blended with

the effects were blended with live-action with a multi-million dollar

live-action with a multi-million dollar

live-action with a multi-million dollar cry XMP two supercomputer this is

cry XMP two supercomputer this is

cry XMP two supercomputer this is gunstar one identify yourself three the

gunstar one identify yourself three the

gunstar one identify yourself three the process required two years to animate 25

process required two years to animate 25

process required two years to animate 25 minutes worth of CG effects and that’s

minutes worth of CG effects and that’s

minutes worth of CG effects and that’s how you get a scientific and technical

how you get a scientific and technical

how you get a scientific and technical Academy Award in case you were curious

Academy Award in case you were curious

Academy Award in case you were curious not even your mighty stuff fighters will

not even your mighty stuff fighters will

not even your mighty stuff fighters will be able to save you we shall see is our

number 9 glass night young Sherlock

number 9 glass night young Sherlock Holmes

it may seem elementary now but this

it may seem elementary now but this murderous stained glass night was the

murderous stained glass night was the

murderous stained glass night was the first ever 3d character to appear in a

first ever 3d character to appear in a

first ever 3d character to appear in a feature film it was created to terrorize

feature film it was created to terrorize

feature film it was created to terrorize old priests by the Pixar group yes the

old priests by the Pixar group yes the

old priests by the Pixar group yes the Pixar group using a then revolutionary

Pixar group using a then revolutionary

Pixar group using a then revolutionary motion blur technology and cutting-edge

motion blur technology and cutting-edge

motion blur technology and cutting-edge 32-bit rgba paint systems project

32-bit rgba paint systems project

32-bit rgba paint systems project Genesis a proposal to the Federation

Genesis a proposal to the Federation

Genesis a proposal to the Federation number eight Genesis effect Star Trek to

number eight Genesis effect Star Trek to

number eight Genesis effect Star Trek to the Wrath of Khan

the Wrath of Khan

the Wrath of Khan what exactly is Genesis you would expect

what exactly is Genesis you would expect

what exactly is Genesis you would expect us to include some Star Wars action but

us to include some Star Wars action but

us to include some Star Wars action but instead we’re giving the nod to the very

instead we’re giving the nod to the very

instead we’re giving the nod to the very first CGI sequence ever used in film

first CGI sequence ever used in film

first CGI sequence ever used in film stage three will involve the process on

stage three will involve the process on

stage three will involve the process on a planetary scale this one minute

a planetary scale this one minute

a planetary scale this one minute Genesis effect showcased the MacGuffins

Genesis effect showcased the MacGuffins

Genesis effect showcased the MacGuffins ability to reanimate a dead planet

ability to reanimate a dead planet

ability to reanimate a dead planet thanks to a 32-bit fractal and particle

thanks to a 32-bit fractal and particle

thanks to a 32-bit fractal and particle effects through paint software created

effects through paint software created

effects through paint software created by the VINs subdivision of Lucasfilm

by the VINs subdivision of Lucasfilm

by the VINs subdivision of Lucasfilm you’ll never guess Pixar passionate

you’ll never guess Pixar passionate

you’ll never guess Pixar passionate number seven first animal labyrinth

while Jumanji was the first film to

while Jumanji was the first film to showcase a gaggle of CGI animals

showcase a gaggle of CGI animals

showcase a gaggle of CGI animals the first quote-unquote realistic

the first quote-unquote realistic

the first quote-unquote realistic computer animated animal was actually in

computer animated animal was actually in

computer animated animal was actually in this Jim Henson classic used for its

this Jim Henson classic used for its

this Jim Henson classic used for its memorable opening credits scene

memorable opening credits scene

memorable opening credits scene this digital owl may be dated by today’s

this digital owl may be dated by today’s

this digital owl may be dated by today’s standards but was still an important

standards but was still an important

standards but was still an important step in the evolution of CGI as a

step in the evolution of CGI as a

step in the evolution of CGI as a cinematic tool surprisingly no CGI was

cinematic tool surprisingly no CGI was

cinematic tool surprisingly no CGI was used for David Bowie’s hair hey guys

used for David Bowie’s hair hey guys

used for David Bowie’s hair hey guys welcome to your new buddy Jake number 6

welcome to your new buddy Jake number 6

welcome to your new buddy Jake number 6 advanced motion capture avatar that’s

advanced motion capture avatar that’s

advanced motion capture avatar that’s great no no don’t take it easy don’t get

great no no don’t take it easy don’t get

great no no don’t take it easy don’t get ahead of yourself ok believe it or not

ahead of yourself ok believe it or not

ahead of yourself ok believe it or not this film was an idea in James Cameron’s

this film was an idea in James Cameron’s

this film was an idea in James Cameron’s head since the early 90s but he had to

head since the early 90s but he had to

head since the early 90s but he had to wait for the technology to catch up

wait for the technology to catch up

wait for the technology to catch up using photorealistic computer-generated

using photorealistic computer-generated

using photorealistic computer-generated characters through the new motion

characters through the new motion

characters through the new motion capture tech innovations included

capture tech innovations included

capture tech innovations included skullcaps with cameras that captured

skullcaps with cameras that captured

skullcaps with cameras that captured perfect renditions of the actors eyes

perfect renditions of the actors eyes

perfect renditions of the actors eyes and facial expressions the immense

and facial expressions the immense

and facial expressions the immense rendering was done through a server farm

rendering was done through a server farm

rendering was done through a server farm of 35,000 processor cores transferring

of 35,000 processor cores transferring

of 35,000 processor cores transferring 17 gigabytes of data per minute

number five dinosaurs

number five dinosaurs Jurassic Park it’s this dinosaur

Jurassic Park it’s this dinosaur

Jurassic Park it’s this dinosaur this film marked a major turning point

this film marked a major turning point

this film marked a major turning point for computer animated imagery

for computer animated imagery

for computer animated imagery fiercely taking it out of the novelty

fiercely taking it out of the novelty

fiercely taking it out of the novelty stage confront this place Hollywood had

stage confront this place Hollywood had

stage confront this place Hollywood had previously considered CGI largely

previously considered CGI largely

previously considered CGI largely unproven however he was Industrial Light

unproven however he was Industrial Light

unproven however he was Industrial Light and Magic that created the ad seamless

and Magic that created the ad seamless

and Magic that created the ad seamless effects shot which allowed for

effects shot which allowed for

effects shot which allowed for full-sized dinosaurs to move freely in

full-sized dinosaurs to move freely in

full-sized dinosaurs to move freely in ways not possible with animatronics in

ways not possible with animatronics in

ways not possible with animatronics in light of its success Hollywood made CGI

light of its success Hollywood made CGI

light of its success Hollywood made CGI a staple in modern cinema and

a staple in modern cinema and

a staple in modern cinema and stop-motion became all but extinct

so by number for motion-captured Gollum

so by number for motion-captured Gollum the Lord of the Ring series come before

this revolutionary effect courtesy of

this revolutionary effect courtesy of wet a digital brought one of the most

wet a digital brought one of the most

wet a digital brought one of the most precious elements of tokens fantasy to

precious elements of tokens fantasy to

precious elements of tokens fantasy to life well the trilogy is packed with

life well the trilogy is packed with

life well the trilogy is packed with then new technology

then new technology

then new technology the most notable effects were used to

the most notable effects were used to

the most notable effects were used to create Gollum thanks to the newfound

create Gollum thanks to the newfound

create Gollum thanks to the newfound ability to capture Andy circuses

ability to capture Andy circuses

ability to capture Andy circuses physical performance complete with his

physical performance complete with his

physical performance complete with his own facial features not lost much this

own facial features not lost much this

own facial features not lost much this involved pioneering the use of key

involved pioneering the use of key

involved pioneering the use of key framing and digital rotoscoping by a

framing and digital rotoscoping by a

framing and digital rotoscoping by a large fellowship of animators you

large fellowship of animators you

large fellowship of animators you commercial choice we crashed all man

commercial choice we crashed all man

commercial choice we crashed all man collection number three first water

collection number three first water

collection number three first water effect via abyss this is the effect that

effect via abyss this is the effect that

effect via abyss this is the effect that marked the first major mainstream shift

marked the first major mainstream shift

marked the first major mainstream shift away from traditional and cell based

away from traditional and cell based

away from traditional and cell based animation here director James Cameron

animation here director James Cameron

animation here director James Cameron decided to trust the creation of these

decided to trust the creation of these

decided to trust the creation of these water-based aliens to Industrial Light

water-based aliens to Industrial Light

water-based aliens to Industrial Light and Magic the result was a program used

and Magic the result was a program used

and Magic the result was a program used to create liquid with kinetic properties

to create liquid with kinetic properties

to create liquid with kinetic properties capable of mimicking phases

it took six months to create 75 seconds

it took six months to create 75 seconds of CGI talk about submerging yourself in

of CGI talk about submerging yourself in

of CGI talk about submerging yourself in a project number two the t1000

a project number two the t1000

a project number two the t1000 terminator – it’s impossible to think of

terminator – it’s impossible to think of

terminator – it’s impossible to think of landmark visual effects without this

landmark visual effects without this

landmark visual effects without this academy award-winning spectacle despite

academy award-winning spectacle despite

academy award-winning spectacle despite its low tech era director James Cameron

its low tech era director James Cameron

its low tech era director James Cameron decided to one-up his previous effort

decided to one-up his previous effort

decided to one-up his previous effort and decided to showcase a villain

and decided to showcase a villain

and decided to showcase a villain dependent on the new variation of the

dependent on the new variation of the

dependent on the new variation of the then famous liquid effect the result was

then famous liquid effect the result was

then famous liquid effect the result was a convincingly liquid metal

a convincingly liquid metal

a convincingly liquid metal shape-shifting antagonist a draw

shape-shifting antagonist a draw

shape-shifting antagonist a draw dropping feet it guaranteed that

dropping feet it guaranteed that

dropping feet it guaranteed that Industrial Light and Magic would remain

Industrial Light and Magic would remain

Industrial Light and Magic would remain legendary for their cutting-edge

legendary for their cutting-edge

legendary for their cutting-edge modelling morphing and animation for

modelling morphing and animation for

modelling morphing and animation for decades to come

number one light cycles Tron whizzing to

number one light cycles Tron whizzing to the top spot on our list are the iconic

the top spot on our list are the iconic

the top spot on our list are the iconic vehicles of the computer world

vehicles of the computer world

vehicles of the computer world a massive groundbreaker these bikes

a massive groundbreaker these bikes

a massive groundbreaker these bikes appeared within 20 minutes of footage

appeared within 20 minutes of footage

appeared within 20 minutes of footage astonishingly they were created with

astonishingly they were created with

astonishingly they were created with only 2 megabytes of RAM and 330

only 2 megabytes of RAM and 330

only 2 megabytes of RAM and 330 megabytes of hard drive space all this

megabytes of hard drive space all this

megabytes of hard drive space all this during a time when people thought that

during a time when people thought that

during a time when people thought that pong was an accurate tennis simulator

pong was an accurate tennis simulator

pong was an accurate tennis simulator simply put movies would look a lot more

simply put movies would look a lot more

simply put movies would look a lot more practical today

agree with our list with which CGI

agree with our list with which CGI effect do you consider the most

effect do you consider the most

effect do you consider the most important landmark of them all for more

important landmark of them all for more

important landmark of them all for more entertaining top tens be sure to

entertaining top tens be sure to

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