Comments on: Should Animated Films Qualify For Best Effects Oscars?

By: geoff

geoff — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:16:00 +0000

As a visual effects artist myself, I would like to see them included, however, I think the Oscars and other awards are basically worthless. I’d like to see the public voting on these, rather than a bunch of Hollywood cronies who probably don’t even watch the movies they decide should win. I mean it’s obvious every year who will win the vfx award. This year it’ll be transformers because Spielberg produced it.. regardless of the other fantastic vfx that happened this year…

By: Lars

Lars — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:57:57 +0000

I think animated films should not qualify for best effects Oscar, because in animation, the animator has complete control over all settings of the current scene, whereas the embedding of VFX in live-action-sequences requires greater skills, because the animators cannot change the settings of the scene (like lighting).

By: Kristina

Kristina — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 05:50:04 +0000

No. There’s a difference between making Nemo look good as he swims in a cartoon ocean, and making Davy Jones look photorealistic standing in broad daylight next to actual human beings.

By: CastleKnight

CastleKnight — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:57:35 +0000

I agree with those who say there should be consideration about some VFX catergories at the Oscars. However the only problem with that is that you are increasing the amount of catergories at the Oscars (which is already long and big enough) and leading the way for a lot of unnecessary catergories to be introduced. I think Darren gave a great example and Roguepirate got it spot on. Imagine if Shrek The Third won an Oscar. *shudder*.

By: Darren J Seeley

Darren J Seeley — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:09:38 +0000

I echo Roguepirate, who pretty much nailed it.

After all, let’s say this oscar year, An FX nomination goes to The Transformers (and, if it doesn’t get one, there will be riots in the streets) but one of the other nominations goes to say, The Bee Movie. The Bee Movie wins the Oscar.

That would stink. (There also might be riots in the streets)

By: Jake Vermont

Jake Vermont — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:05:08 +0000

I’m doing VFX for selfmade movies myself but as a hobby for 3 years now and all i can tell is that it’s really hard. It takes a lot of time and skill to get a shot look good. And I really don’t see any difference between a copletely animated movie and a movie with added VFX if you look at the way they are done. And I have to agree with Roguepirate. There should be some VFX categories like best Characteranimation or most realistic animation of elements (earth fire water etc.), even best compositing, best 3D model or best textures e.g.
There are so many things you have to work on to get Visual Effect look very good. Those people who do all that should be honored separately.

(I’m german sorry for my english – GREETS TO JOHN AND DOUG FROM GERMANY YOU’RE GREAT GUYS)

By: WolfMarauder

WolfMarauder — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:04:28 +0000

I believe there should be a category for live action films (where things such as how wel the effects blend with the live action footage are taken into account), and a separate category for outstanding effects in a fully effects based film (animation).

By: Roguepirate

Roguepirate — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:30:48 +0000

It’s difficult to say, although im leaning toward it not being included. You can’t really use music as an example since music is transparent meaning you can compare music between mediums without problem as with story and scripts. VFX is a bit different in that to me it would seem to be a bit more difficult to incorporate effects into a non-animated film than it is to incorporate it into an animated film. And in that sense the visual effects achievement would be in a way greater than the same effect in an animated film.

Also to take into consideration is what the award is based upon. If the award was weighted toward visual effects presentation then animated films should not be included. If the award was weighted toward visual effects achievements, then it should be presented to the person rather than the film thus voiding the animation/non-animation gap.

By: DJ Machismo

DJ Machismo — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:02:34 +0000

Absolutely they should be included.

By: nbakid2000

nbakid2000 — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:59:48 +0000

Yes, especially with all the CGI that goes into animated films nowadays. Haven’t you ever watched an animated film and just been blown away by a new technique they used/developed for the film? Absolutely they should.

Or maybe they should have two different Best Effects Oscars…*shrug*