“Thanos? Come on. Give me a break.” James Cameron exclaimed while comparing the VFX used in Avatar: The Way of Water and Avengers: Endgame in an IndieWire interview. The point is that visual effects are everywhere, from blockbuster video games to billion-dollar-earning movies and YouTube videos to TV commercials. But how do VFX are created?
Visual effects, popularly known as VFX, combines real-life footage and computer-generated images (CGI) to build a stunning world and characters for the movies to hook audiences and give them a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be in a fantasy land and be with their favourite characters in the big screen.
Some VFX-heavy movies like Pirates of the Caribbean, The Planet of the Apes, Ready Player One, and Titanic were big box-office hits and have changed the course of enjoying movies in a setting that’s dear to audiences, connecting them with characters instantly.
The top three studios that helped build VFX-heavy movies for renowned directors are Industrial Light & Magic, Pixar Animation Studios, and Wētā Digital. But how do these top studios and renowned directors build these movies? By using industry-leading VFX software.
Here, we will talk about 5 VFX tools that defined the CGI era and helped create movies that earned billions of dollars worldwide and the hearts of cinephiles.
Blender: An open-source VFX tool
According to VFX gurus, Blender probably has the best tracker in the market. It’s a free, open-source and fully integrated 3D content creation platform. Top studios around the world, professionals and hobbyists use Blender to create animations, motion graphics, TV shows, story-boarding and feature films. The suite is packed with essential tools like Modeling, Rendering, Animation & Rigging, Video Editing, VFX, Compositing, Texturing, etc.
Blender offers ultra-realistic rendering and makes the editing and design transforming process smooth and easy.
Full-length feature films that used Blender are:
- RRR (2022)
- Spiderman – 2 (2004)
- Next Gen by Netflix
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- The Midnight Sky (2020)
- I Lost My Body
Houdini: A VFX tool to create complex scenes
Houdini is a 3D VFX and animation package by SideFX. It’s a node-based 3D animation software known for its procedural workflow and advanced simulation tools. It is widely used for creating complex visual effects such as fluid simulations, destruction effects, and dynamic simulations.
The two components, Houdini FX and Houdini Core offer unparalleled tools for VFX artists, CG animators, and technical directors. Houdini FX offers dynamic simulation, a process perfect for feature films, commercials or video games. Houdini Core delivers accessible 3D animation for modelers, lighters, and animators. Both FX and Core versions of Houdini offer a pipeline-in-a-box for easy workflow packaging and sharing via Digital Assets and plugins for popular applications like Maya, 3ds Max, C4D, Unity, and Unreal. Houdini provides flexibility, performance, and creativity whether creating stunning visual effects or crafting immersive animations to win audiences’ hearts.
The films made by visionary directors using Houdini are:
- The Lion King (2019)
- Venom 2
- Moana
- Raya and the Last Dragon
- Frozen 2
- Spiderman: Far From Home
- Captain Marvel
- Ant-man and The Wasp
- Dumbo
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
RenderMan: Pixar’s main VFX tool behind animation
Pixar’s official website has a quote from auteur George Lucas on how Renderman began as an interesting artistic exercise that later became an indispensable 3D rendering tool for the film industry, highlighting the importance of Renderman.
Renderman is an Academy Award-winning rendering technology for producing stunning images for VFX and feature film animation. This tool can create highly realistic lighting, mimic the behavior of real-world cameras with motion blur and depth of field, intuitive workflow and offers maximum flexibility for integration with tools like Maya, Blender, MaterialX Lama, etc. Some top features of Renderman are Denoiser, Progressive Pixels, Camera Controls, Preset Browser, and Light Baking.
Some beloved animated films created using Renderman that collectively earned more than $15 billion are:
- Toy Story 1, 2, 3, and 4
- Cars 1 and 2
- The Incredibles 1 and 2
- Ratatouille
- WALL•E
- Up
- Inside Out
- Coco
Katana: A VFX tool to fix lighting in visual effects
Katana stands as the pinnacle in look development and lighting with a swift and robust solution to creative challenges. Artists can effortlessly tackle lighting VFX shots and sequences with its multi-asset workflows.
Katana’s sequenced-based lighting streamlines the process, reducing back-and-forth iterations and empowers artists to illuminate entire sequences seamlessly. It boasts USD-optimized technology and compatibility with multiple APIs and renderers making it a versatile addition to any pipeline.
With pioneering rendering workflows like Foresight Rendering and collaborative look development features, Katana is tailor-made to drive the development of hero assets while facilitating seamless collaboration in shot production. The latest version, Katana 7.0, introduces USD native workflows, and enhanced performance ensuring an optimized experience for artists and studios alike.
Films that used Katana are:
- The Amazing Spider-Man
- Dune
- Gemini Man
- Ford vs Ferrari
- Jumanji: The Next Level
- War for the Planet of the Apes
- Logan
- Blade Runner 2049
- Deadpool
Maya: A VFX tool for fine detailing
Maya is a professional 3D software to create lifelike characters and blockbuster-worthy effects. Its intuitive animation tools breathe life into characters, while its modelling features shape 3D objects and scenes with precision.
Maya’s realistic effects range from explosive action sequences to intricate cloth simulations. With accelerated workflows, Maya iterates faster workflow to meet deadlines without sacrificing creativity.
Its powerful tools help VFX artists deliver stunning visuals and fine details to characters and scenes. Trusted by industry leaders, Maya scales seamlessly to handle the most complex shots, characters, and worlds, making it the go-to choice for top artists in the field. Whether animating lifelike characters or creating detailed simulations, Maya provides the tools and flexibility to bring any creative vision to life.
Blockbuster films that used Maya are:
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
- Hugo
- Real Steel
- Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon
- Kung Fu Panda 2
- The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
- Puss in Boots
Conclusion
VFX tools have revolutionized the filmmaking industry by helping creators and filmmakers deliver awe-inspiring, breathtaking visuals and immersive experiences to global audiences. They have been instrumental in crafting blockbuster hits and captivating cinephiles worldwide.
However, the rapid pace of innovation in entertainment technology means that new tools emerge faster than professionals can fully integrate them into their workflows. Nevertheless, these versatile tools listed in this article are indispensable assets in the arsenal of every professional filmmaker and VFX artist, shaping the future of cinematic storytelling and earning billions of dollars.
