History SugarWiki / VisualEffectsOfAwesome

You really did [[Film/SupermanTheMovie believe a man could fly]], [[Film/TheFly1986 or slowly become one....]]

** The Hondo animatronic in the pre-flight briefing for Smuggler's Run located at Ride/GalaxysEdge is often mistaken for a costumed cast member due to how realistic and fluid its movements are.

You really did [[Film/SupermanTheMovie believe a man could fly]], [[Film/TheFly1986 or slowly become a fly....]]

You really did [[Film/SupermanTheMovie believe a man could fly]], [[Film/TheFly1986 or become become a fly....]]

You really did [[Film/SupermanTheMovie believe a man could fly]],

* Pretty much any commercial done by Creator/DigitalDomain, Creator/{{Framestore}}, Creator/ImageEngine, Creator/IndustrialLightAndMagic, Creator/TheMill, Creator/MovingPictureCompany, Creator/PrimeFocus or Creator/{{WETA}} will fall into this. Partially because they're also responsible for many high profile shows and films. Such as ''Series/WalkingWithDinosaurs'', ''Series/{{Primeval}}'', ''Series/StargateSG1'', ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', the ''Film/HarryPotter'' series, ''Film/TheTreeOfLife'', The ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' movies, ''Film/{{Avatar}}'', ''Film/{{Watchmen}}'', ''Film/{{District 9}}'' and ''Film/{{Titanic|1997}}'' among others.

** The entirety of ''Transformers: The Ride'', due to being animated by Creator/IndustrialLightAndMagic, but special mention goes to a mixture of great 3D, heat, and pyrotechnics to make it genuinely feel like there's ''a heat-seeking missile heading right for your car.''

** And if what we have seen of season 4 so far is any indication, the animation quality is set to just keep improving. A particularly noticable change between seasons is that now, when there are close shots of characters, the backgrounds actually have ''depth of field!''. We had seen depth of field tricks occasionally beforehand (Usually shifting depth of field from foreground to background), but now it seems to have become the norm for closeup shots.

* The 2013 anime adaptation of ''Manga/AttackOnTitan''. Special mention must go to the Three-Dimensional Maneuver Gear sequences, which turn the human characters into what can only be described as Franchise/SpiderMan on '''steroids'''.

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome/DeathBattle

[[folder:Web Original]]
* There is a subgenre of YouTubePoop known as Flash Poop, which is when the Poop tries to tell a story through the use of visual effects which go above and beyond the usual norm for YTP. A good example would be [[http://youtu.be/z-k6w-ckyms?t=4m20s this video]].[[note]]It's a regular Poop until the 4:20 mark.[[/note]]
* Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos tends to have nice visual effects, especially in terms of the wicked distortion that goes on when Slendy's about, but in particular WebVideo/TribeTwelve's greatest strength is its spectacular Slenderman-tentacle effects. They may not be shown for long periods of time, but seeing them is awesome. Similarly, the sadly deleted series [=AKoolStick=] or [=SAVETHEARK=] had badass tentacles and ''jumping Slender Man,'' in addition to some of the best distortion effects ever used for the Slender Man Mythos.[[note]]And the guy who made it [[https://www.youtube.com/user/AkoolstickOOG/videos made tutorials.]][[/note]]
* [[http://ryanvsdorkman.com/ Ryan Vs. Dorkman]]. Two visual effects animators stage a lightsaber duel in an abandoned warehouse. End result: millions of views, worldwide adulation, and its own page on Website/TheOtherWiki.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOUjfD9ND8U FedConIX (2009) opening video]], features a CGI short film featuring the USS ''Kelvin'' from ''Film/StarTrek2009'' exploring a ringed planet when they are attacked by what looks like a squadron of Klingons. In swoops the ''Enterprise'' to save the day. Honestly, of all the computer-generated models, this video was the most seamless ever. Every phaser and torgedo blast, every asteroid, they even showed the subtle difference in the metal plating of the older ''Kelvin'' and the newer ''Enterprise''. Awesome? Ya think??!
** That is the (awesome) work of Tobias Richter, [[http://www.modelermagic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/enterprise_wall04_1280.jpg king]] [[http://www.modelermagic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/kelvin_wall02_1280.jpg of]] [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SVSAcj5xz4/TQl3IO3QllI/AAAAAAAACxw/nk9GKjgcGFw/s1600/lightworks3.jpg stunningly]] [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SVSAcj5xz4/TQl_dPp0NiI/AAAAAAAACyI/DGmLwDLpqU8/s1600/lightworks6.jpg gorgeous]] [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SVSAcj5xz4/TQl1CQrXNtI/AAAAAAAACxY/4eu_somte2o/s1600/lightworksp1.jpg fan art]].
* ''WebVideo/FrenchBaguetteIntelligence'': The editing of French Baguette Intelligence's later videos has been praised by many viewers. A notable example of this is the animation of [[Characters/AceAttorneyProsecutorsAndJudges Manfred von Karma]] with a revolver in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH4CnfkTYPI Vegan Cannibalism is the Future]], which has become the subject of several memes.
* ''WebAnimation/ThereSheIs''. As if the whole damn thing wasn't gorgeous enough from the beginning, [[spoiler: the scene where the screen explodes at the airport]] in Step 5 is something else.
* Music/JonLajoie's video for "Pop Song", which parodies the music videos of young male pop singers such as Justin Bieber.
* Season 8 of WebAnimation/RedVsBlue is this with Rooster Teeth's addition of Creator/MontyOum (the maker of ''WebAnimation/{{Haloid}}'') into their ranks. Not only is the CG very cool in it self but even better is that it is put into several Halo 3 levels perfectly. And then the fights (especially ep. 10 and 19) is just jawdropping, especially for a online-show. Episode 19 takes the cake however, as the characters fight amongst cliff in the process of collapsing around them, and an entire ice shelf breaking off. (ep 10 can be found [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke9wtbzGjCI here]])
** [[WebAnimation/{{Haloid}} EVERY]][[WebAnimation/DeadFantasy THING]] by Monty Oum counts, but the WebAnimation/RedVsBlue Season 9 takes the cake. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArRt-Ymopqk Here's]] the trailer, and it only gets better from there.
** And then Season 10 cranks it up even further, culminating in Episode 19, when [[spoiler:Tex & Carolina [[InterestingSituationDuel duke it out in zero-gravity aboard the bridge]] of the frigate ''[[CoolShip Mother Of Invention]]'' as it flies through a planet's atmosphere - trailing fire and glowing with reentry heat - and then makes a sliding crash-landing on a [[SceneryPorn beautifully rendered snowy locale]]. You'd swear the Rooster-Teeth boys got 343 Industries themselves to help them out.]]
* Speaking of Monty Oum, ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' gets better looking with every Volume. Even though the first volume was occasionally a little rough, Volume 3 added upgraded facial rigs for more expressive characters than in past episodes, and Volume 4[[note]]the first produced entirely after Monty's [[DiedDuringProduction passing]][[/note]] uses all new software and a new cel-shaded art style with plenty of visual treats.
* Creator/FreddieWong. This one man can do what entire effects studios strive for.
** He also directs the new ''WebVideo/VideoGameHighSchool'' on Website/YouTube, which brings his fantastic visual effects up to eleven.
* The guys over at WebVideo/CorridorDigital must have sipped from the same Fountain of Visual Awesomesauce as Creator/FreddieWong.
* The animated short [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FKgtgMA6zs The Chase]], by Philippe Gamer. No words can describe it's beauty, especially on a low budget.
* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'', mainly starting with "A Jorb Well Done", pretty much teaches us how well you can animate with Flash (minus the Powered by The Cheat shorts, but's that's [[StylisticSuck intentional]]).
** Keep in mind that most of it is done at less than 20fps. Now tell us it isn't impressive.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVkDrIacHJM The Backwater Gospel,]] an animated short about a small town who is terrified by the appearance of the Undertaker, whose arrival always means death. The animation is 3D, but looks very sketchy and gritty, and the whole thing has a dark, eerie and extremely atmospheric feel to it. Points for when (spoilered because it's best if taken by surprise) [[spoiler: the Undertaker's wings first flicker into view]] and [[spoiler: the scene where all the villages turn on each other and rip each other to shreds, which is almost entirely in silohette.]] Even just the detail put into the props, such as the Tramp's guitar, and the little details like only animating the details of the eyes during strong moments of anger and fear, is absolutely fantastic. And all from a small group of college students.
* The ''[[VideoGame/{{Bionicle}} Mata Nui Online Game]]'', featuring creative, colorful, stylistic and expansive SceneryPorn with several drastically different landscapes and fantasy architecture. Though some of the animation can be rough at parts and it may not seem that impressive compared to modern standards, but considering it was released in 2001 as a freeware Flash-based point-and-click game, one can easily understand why even slow dial-up users kept waiting patiently for every next bit of scenery to load.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX6JcybgDFo This video]] may just be a demonstration of projection mapping, but it's a ''glorious'' demonstration of projection mapping. It was made in-camera, with no cuts and no post-production.
* Naturally, there are a good many tutorials on how to pull this off, in addition to software and plugins for them that serve the single purpose of generating this (i.e. Adobe After Effects)
* Freeware program UsefulNotes/MikuMikuDance (MMD for short) is made with the intent of producing 3D animated films with an ever-increasing selection of models that can be designed at your own leisure. While a good chunk of the videos firmly end up in the YouTubePoop category due to obvious OffModel problems or limited knowledge of the software's abilities, once in a while perfectly choregraphied gems will be found. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORzUZbTec8U Some]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDEVXwiiSIA MMD Cup]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4EcZCnp-hs competitors]] take the cake for the insane amount of effort put into it.
* Website/YouTube user [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEc2gctIynWHMDq2tuCBPJw minusT]] is a proficient user of open-source 3D animation software Blender, which is far more extensive than UsefulNotes/MikuMikuDance mentioned above. His speciality? Recreating BulletHell boss battles from the ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' series in 3D. You'll probably never look at a 2D-scrolling shoot-em-up the same way after witnessing these [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSAq1AT7g9Q pieces]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unRPhNH-YWo of]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57Zwrx9a9Lo art]].
* ''WebVideo/DontHugMeImScared''. Each episode just looks better and better than the last (save for the "digital world" in Epsiode 4, though this is StylisticSuck), with increasingly better puppet effects and tons of MediumBlending. The mixture of puppets, realistic props, 2D and stop motion animation, and CGI makes for some great SceneryGorn.
* ''WebVideo/SatelliteCity'' has some [[SugarWiki/AwesomeArt brilliantly twisted, creative, and cool character designs]] for its interdimensional [[RogerRabbitEffect CGI creature]] cast that look good even in still images, but the sheer level of intense emotion and expression that creator Sam Fennah's able to wring out of the distinctly ''non''-humnaoid characters is nothing short of astounding. Not only that, but the animation is done primarily by Fennah alone, and ''completely'' averts NoFlowInCGI, something that major studios have trouble with, let alone one guy working for free. Every character either has a thick, lush and realistic coat of fur, human-like hair, flowing clothing, or all of the above, and even the subtle details stand out. You can see the characters ''visibly breathing'', and getting soaked through by a light rain in one scene.
* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'':
** For the most part, Lewis playing so many characters is accomplished by only showing one at a time, or using fairly obvious splitscreens. Then comes the redone version of the Entity finale, which includes a shot of Linkara walking around '90s Kid, completely seamlessly.
** The kicker was during the first battle with Mechakara. Not only was Lewis fighting ''himself'' in that battle (first as the Ninja Style Dancer, then as himself), but he also utilized Triple-Vision to allow himself, 90s Kid, and Harvey Finevoice to stand together and fight Mechakara as a team.
* WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic's ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad'' review had a ton of hand-built props and sets, done by Jim Jaeroz in three weeks, and Tamara's Furiosa costume (complete with prosthetic arm) made even her {{squee}}.
* Paul Johnson, aka "[=OtaKing77077=]", makes stunning animations rotoscoped over 3D models, creating videos comparable to high-quality animations from the [=80s=]. His best-known work using these techniques is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN_CP4SuoTU this epic tribute]] to ''Franchise/StarWars''. He also [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=876W253z6KY payed homage]] to ''VideoGame/RType''.
* ''Film/TooManyCooks'' features a foray into science fiction, parodying ''Series/BattlestarGalactica1978''. The sets and spaceships are all computer-generated, but they look ''astonishingly'' [[StylisticSuck like actual cheesy sets and model shots from the late 70s]].
* Among the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fan-artists:
** [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaVf-df5Fm9U5ooS-UF7TOg Duo Cartoonist]] deserves accolade for their [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW5n3k2VgZE "Children of the Night"]] animated music video alone. The animation is very well choreographed and reaches quality of the original show.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/user/jananimationstudios JanAnimations]]'s animated shorts are comparable in quality to the original show as well. Check out the "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1NEtnClzzM Don't Mine at Night]]" music video for a good example. (Unfortunately, most of his pony videos, such as [[WebAnimation/ButtonsAdventures the ones with Button Mash]], fell prey to cease & desist takedowns; but you can find mirrors around the internet, e.g. [[https://www.youtube.com/user/ZIK9999/videos here]].)
** But perhaps the greatest of all is "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7PQ9IO-7fU Lullaby for a Princess]]", a fan video produced over the course of ''two years'' showcasing Luna's transformation into Nightmare Moon and ultimate defeat by her sister. The visual effects are absolutely '''stunning''', surpassing the quality of the show itself at several points; most notable is probably the battle in front of the eclipsed sun, which you would swear was the climax of a professional big-budget animated movie.
* Almost all of the animations by [[https://www.youtube.com/user/SpindleHorse/videos Vivienne Medrano]], best known as the creator of ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel'' and ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'', and previously for the fanmade music videos, ''especially''. Her animation is surprisingly fluid, bouncy, and expressive, on par with many traditionally-animated feature films.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIMjPrDp151nk76Bf0o9zdg SallyRose975]]'s ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' post-2018 {{Fanvid}}s use a lot of dazzling transitions and video effects typical of an effort-invested Fanvid. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kQjR5JQnF0 A good example.]] ''([=SallyRose975=]'s fanvids are indeed flashy, sometimes even EpilepticFlashingLights, so not recommended for those with photosensitive epilepsy.)''
** On the topic of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' {{Fanvid}}s, [[https://www.youtube.com/user/SonikkuLoveStudio SonikkuLoveStudio]]'s {{Lyric Video}}s are simply professional-looking.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iol3Xydcn4I This mash-up]] of the "[[Music/{{Aha}} Take On Me]]" music video and [[Memes/TheSimpsons the Steamed Hams segment of "22 Short Films About Springfield"]] seamlessly inserts Seymour Skinner into the sketch portions of the video to great effect.
* ''WebAnimation/MundoCanibal'' has some impressively composed scenes in certain animations from 2009 onwards (especially considering the animations are all done by only two people), inserting multiple visual effects using only Adobe Flash. One of the best examples is a scene from the 2011 episode "Tomelirolla no Templo do Pastor Metralhadora", when Pastor Metralhadora summons the "Noah's Titanic", with a gorgeous lighting effect; the full process for this scene [[https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3UTqwrjsEOs/TtAaXw_ungI/AAAAAAAABUI/dHfCDHcHaoA/s1600/Efeitos-PassoaPasso003.jpg can be seen here]].
* ''WebOriginal/WellBeRightBack'': The whole series is made by transferring videos onto actual VHS tapes, with a camcorder being used for the real-life segments, to make the eras feel more realistic.
[[/folder]]

* The Disney short ''WesternAnimation/GetAHorse''. Both the 2D and CG animation is some of Disney's best in recent years and the seamless transitions between both mediums is just mind-blowing and the move and act just like a late-1920s character would. The best way to see it is in a theater with 3D glasses on; you'd swear that MickeyMouse was really right in front of you.

You see [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}} the Big G marches on the screen with his pals]], the earth trembles,

and when [[Film/KingKong that giant ape comes]], your spine tingles.

* ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya''. The Yuki v. Asakura battle.

** ''LightNovel/TheGardenOfSinners'' has some amazing fight sequences, pretty much all of Shiki's battles fall under this category, with special mention going to her psychic power animation filled clash with Asagami Fujino, her high paced and dizzying battle with Araya Souren, and her knife fight against Lio Shirazumi. Even some of their non battle scenes, such as the falling snow filled epilogue were truly beautiful.
** Their next foray, ''LightNovel/FateZero,'' was even more amazing with its battle sequences, the five way, Noble Phantasm powered, clash at the docks being only the tip of the iceberg. The entirety of the dogfight sequence between a F-16 riding Berserker and a Vajra riding Archer was amazingly done, but probably the most powerful was Rider and the Ionian Hetaroi's final charge against Archer and Ea near the end of the series.

* There is a subgenre of WebAnimation/YouTubePoop known as Flash Poop, which is when the Poop tries to tell a story through the use of visual effects which go above and beyond the usual norm for YTP. A good example would be [[http://youtu.be/z-k6w-ckyms?t=4m20s this video]].[[note]]It's a regular Poop until the 4:20 mark.[[/note]]

* Freeware program UsefulNotes/MikuMikuDance (MMD for short) is made with the intent of producing 3D animated films with an ever-increasing selection of models that can be designed at your own leisure. While a good chunk of the videos firmly end up in the WebAnimation/YouTubePoop category due to obvious OffModel problems or limited knowledge of the software's abilities, once in a while perfectly choregraphied gems will be found. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORzUZbTec8U Some]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDEVXwiiSIA MMD Cup]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4EcZCnp-hs competitors]] take the cake for the insane amount of effort put into it.

* Marvel's 2016 Coca-Cola Super Bowl ad with ''Film/AntMan'' and the ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' features stellar CGI on both heroes that's on par with anything in the MCU, including glorious [[NoFlowInCGI bouncing Coke droplets]] when Ant-Man gets the Coke open.