History of Animation & Visual Effects

Module IV - Class 4

Prepared by George John. H.O.D. Animation. SJCC

Visual Effects Studios
There are many visual effects studios that have become well-known for their work in film and television. Some of the most famous
include:

1. Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) - Founded by George Lucas in 1975, ILM has worked on some of the most iconic films of all
time, including the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" franchises.
2. Weta Digital - Founded in 1993 in New Zealand, Weta Digital has worked on a number of high-profile films, including the "Lord
of the Rings" and "Hobbit" trilogies, "Avatar", and "Planet of the Apes".
3. Digital Domain - Founded in 1993, Digital Domain has worked on a wide variety of films, including "Titanic", "The Fifth
Element", and "X-Men: Days of Future Past".
4. Framestore - Founded in 1986 in London, Framestore has worked on a number of acclaimed films, including the "Harry Potter"
franchise, "Gravity", and "Guardians of the Galaxy".
5. MPC (Moving Picture Company) - Founded in 1970, MPC has worked on a variety of films, including "The Jungle Book", "The
Lion King", and "Justice League".
6. Double Negative - Founded in 1998, Double Negative has worked on a number of blockbuster films, including "Inception",
"Interstellar", and "Blade Runner 2049".
7. Sony Pictures Imageworks - Founded in 1992, Sony Pictures Imageworks has worked on a number of high-profile films,
including the "Spider-Man" franchise, "Men in Black", and "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs".

These studios have all contributed significantly to the advancement of visual effects technology and have created some of the most
memorable and groundbreaking visual effects in film history.
ILM - Industrial Light & Magic
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is a visual effects company that was
founded in 1975 by George Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars franchise.
ILM has been responsible for creating some of the most iconic and
groundbreaking visual effects in film history, including the lightsabers in
Star Wars, the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, and the superheroes in the
Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Over the years, ILM has won numerous awards for its work, including 15
Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects, and has worked on some of the
biggest and most successful films of all time. In addition to its work in
film, ILM has also expanded into other areas, including video games,
virtual reality, and themed entertainment.

ILM is now a subsidiary of Lucasfilm, which is owned by The Walt

Disney Company. Today, ILM continues to push the boundaries of what's
possible in visual effects and remains one of the most respected and
influential companies in the industry.
Weta Digital
Weta Digital is a digital visual effects company based in Wellington, New Zealand. It
was founded in 1993 by filmmaker Peter Jackson, along with Richard Taylor and
Jamie Selkirk, and has since become one of the world's leading visual effects studios.

Weta Digital has worked on a wide range of films, including The Lord of the Rings
trilogy, King Kong, Avatar, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The company is
known for its expertise in creating realistic creatures and environments, as well as its
use of cutting-edge technology, such as motion capture and virtual production
techniques.

In addition to its work in film, Weta Digital has also worked on video games, theme
park attractions, and other interactive media. The company has won numerous awards
for its work, including five Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects, and continues to
be a major player in the visual effects industry.
Digital Domain
Digital Domain is a digital production studio that specializes in visual effects and
immersive experiences for film, television, advertising, games, and virtual reality. The
company was founded in 1993 by James Cameron, Scott Ross, and Stan Winston, and
has since worked on numerous high-profile projects.

Digital Domain has contributed to many blockbuster films, including Titanic, Pirates
of the Caribbean, and Avengers: Endgame. The company is known for its expertise in
creating realistic digital characters and environments, as well as its use of innovative
technology, such as facial performance capture and virtual reality.

In addition to its work in film and television, Digital Domain has also worked on
commercials, music videos, and theme park attractions. The company has received
numerous awards for its work, including five Academy Awards for Best Visual
Effects, and continues to be at the forefront of digital production and visual effects.
Digital Domain has studios in Los Angeles, Vancouver, Montreal, Beijing, and
Hyderabad.
Framestore
Framestore is a British visual effects and content creation company that was
founded in 1986. The company has worked on a wide variety of projects,
including feature films, television shows, commercials, and virtual reality
experiences.

Framestore has contributed to many notable films, including the Harry

Potter series, Gravity, Blade Runner 2049, and Avengers: Endgame. The
company is known for its expertise in creating realistic creatures and
environments, as well as its use of cutting-edge technology, such as virtual
production techniques.

In addition to its work in film and television, Framestore has also created
advertising campaigns for major brands such as Coca-Cola, Nike, and Audi.
The company has won numerous awards for its work, including six
Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects, and continues to be a leading
player in the visual effects industry. Framestore has studios in London, New
York, Montreal, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Mumbai.
Moving Picture Company (MPC)
Moving Picture Company (MPC) is a visual effects and animation company that was
founded in 1970 in London, UK. The company has worked on a wide range of films,
including The Jungle Book, The Martian, Blade Runner 2049, and The Lion King.

MPC is known for its expertise in creating realistic creatures and environments, as well as
its use of advanced technologies such as motion capture, virtual reality, and real-time
rendering. In addition to its work in film, MPC has also worked on advertising campaigns
for major brands such as Samsung, Coca-Cola, and Audi.

MPC has received numerous awards for its work, including several Academy Awards for
Best Visual Effects. The company has studios in London, Vancouver, Montreal, Los
Angeles, Bangalore, and Shanghai, and continues to be a major player in the visual effects
industry.
Double Negative (DNEG)
Double Negative (DNEG) is a visual effects and animation company that was
founded in 1998 in London, UK. The company has worked on a wide range of
films, including Inception, Interstellar, Blade Runner 2049, and Avengers:
Endgame.

DNEG is known for its expertise in creating realistic digital environments and
special effects, as well as its use of innovative technologies such as machine
learning and real-time rendering. In addition to its work in film, DNEG has
also worked on advertising campaigns, video games, and theme park
attractions.

The company has won numerous awards for its work, including several
Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects. DNEG has studios in London,
Vancouver, Mumbai, Chennai, Montreal, Los Angeles, and Mumbai, and
continues to be a leading player in the visual effects industry.
Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI)
Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI) is a visual effects and animation
company that was founded in 1992 as a division of Sony Pictures
Entertainment. The company is based in Vancouver, Canada, and has
additional offices in Culver City, California, and Bangalore, India.

SPI has worked on a wide range of films, including the Spider-Man

series, Men in Black, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and Hotel
Transylvania. The company is known for its expertise in creating
complex visual effects and animations, as well as its use of advanced
technologies such as virtual reality and real-time rendering.

In addition to its work in film, SPI has also worked on commercials,

music videos, and other interactive media. The company has won
numerous awards for its work, including several Academy Awards for
Best Visual Effects, and continues to be a major player in the visual
effects industry.
Top 7 VFx Studios in India
Here are the top 7 VFX studios in India, in no particular order:

1. Prime Focus
2. Red Chillies VFX
3. Tata Elxsi
4. Makuta VFX
5. Anibrain
6. NY VFXWAALA
7. Digital Domain India

These studios have worked on many high-profile films and television shows, and have contributed to the growth of the Indian VFX
industry. They offer a wide range of services, including visual effects, animation, 3D conversion, and post-production, and employ
talented artists and technicians who are skilled in using cutting-edge technologies to create stunning visual effects.
Prime Focus
Prime Focus is a global media services company that provides creative and technical
services to the film, television, advertising, and gaming industries. The company was
founded in Mumbai, India, in 1997 and has since expanded to locations around the
world, including North America, Europe, and Asia.

Prime Focus offers a wide range of services, including visual effects, 3D conversion,
animation, sound design, color grading, and post-production. The company has worked
on many high-profile projects, including The Dark Knight, Gravity, Jurassic World, and
Game of Thrones.

Prime Focus is known for its use of advanced technologies, such as cloud-based
workflows and artificial intelligence, to streamline production and improve efficiency.
The company has received numerous awards for its work, including several Emmy
Awards and Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects.
Question
Part A

1. Name four Vfx studios in India.

2. Who founded ILM and what was their first project?
3. Name any four movies for which ILM did the effects.
4. Name any four movies for which MPC did the visual effects and post production.
5. Name any four effects and production companies in India.
6. Name any four movies for which Weta Digital did the effects.
Part B

7. Write a short essay on ILM.

8. Write a short essay on MPC.
9. Write a short essay on Weta Digital.
10. Write a short essay on Rhythm and Hues.
11. Who is George Lucas? What is his contribution to movie effects?
Part C

12. Write an essay on any five prominent effects studios around the world.