Sony Pictures Imageworks, celebrating its 25th anniversary, is unique in Hollywood as the only studio-run visual effects and animation division. Formed in 1992 (now headquartered in Vancouver), Imageworks alternates between live-action/CG hybrids and animation with its younger sister, Sony Pictures Animation, which was founded in 2002.
Imageworks has won two Oscars (“Spider-Man 2” VFX and “The ChubbChubbs!” animated short) along with an Academy Sci-Tech award this year for an advanced shading program. But Imageworks first cut its teeth on “Speed,” “James and the Giant Peach,” “Jumanji,” “Starship Troopers,” and “Contact” before tackling “Stuart Little” in 1999, the first-cg-animated character to star in a live-action feature.
Since then, Imageworks spear-headed performance capture-based virtual production with director Robert Zemeckis (“Polar Express,” “Monster House”), and has continued to work on franchises including “Spider-Man” (“Homecoming” opens this week), “The Smurfs,” and “Hotel Transylvania.”
Here’s our ranking of the 10 best VFX moments from Imageworks:
10. Re-Inventing Invisibility...
Imageworks has won two Oscars (“Spider-Man 2” VFX and “The ChubbChubbs!” animated short) along with an Academy Sci-Tech award this year for an advanced shading program. But Imageworks first cut its teeth on “Speed,” “James and the Giant Peach,” “Jumanji,” “Starship Troopers,” and “Contact” before tackling “Stuart Little” in 1999, the first-cg-animated character to star in a live-action feature.
Since then, Imageworks spear-headed performance capture-based virtual production with director Robert Zemeckis (“Polar Express,” “Monster House”), and has continued to work on franchises including “Spider-Man” (“Homecoming” opens this week), “The Smurfs,” and “Hotel Transylvania.”
Here’s our ranking of the 10 best VFX moments from Imageworks:
10. Re-Inventing Invisibility...
- 7/7/2017
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Like sugar-induced hyperactive children, David and I went to the only place where grownups ring doorbells to see art: The Upper East Side. Were we tricked? Yes. Were we treated? Yeah, that too.
Our first stop was Michael Werner Gallery, where their new and stunning second floor space houses a Peter Saul exhibition. This was a treat to see in the temple that is the Upper East Side. I have always thought Saul's work a precursor to Pop-influenced artists such as Kenny Scharf as well as walking lockstep with R. Crumb's social irreverence.
"Good grief, Elizabeth," quipped David, "it was a group show, with the coyly crass title Tumescence. And yet, you’re right to remember Saul over the others (Peter Doig, Sigmar Polke, and Michael Williams) as his was the only work that actually gives evidence of a truly turgid imagination. For me, the best piece was the recent Saul painting 'Head',...
Our first stop was Michael Werner Gallery, where their new and stunning second floor space houses a Peter Saul exhibition. This was a treat to see in the temple that is the Upper East Side. I have always thought Saul's work a precursor to Pop-influenced artists such as Kenny Scharf as well as walking lockstep with R. Crumb's social irreverence.
"Good grief, Elizabeth," quipped David, "it was a group show, with the coyly crass title Tumescence. And yet, you’re right to remember Saul over the others (Peter Doig, Sigmar Polke, and Michael Williams) as his was the only work that actually gives evidence of a truly turgid imagination. For me, the best piece was the recent Saul painting 'Head',...
- 11/9/2013
- by Elizabeth Stevens
- www.culturecatch.com
It’s been a little more than 36 hours since Mad Men’s antepenultimate episode left viewers collapsed in a heaping pile of dismay and despair. (It goes pretty much without saying that if you haven’t see the episode yet, there are nothing but Spoilers from here. Consider yourself warned.) Joan’s decision to trade a night with a lecherous Jaguar big wig for a full partnership in the firm — ensuring Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce could win the much coveted Jaguar account — will certainly have repercussions well beyond this season. Viewers will debate the merits of Joan’s decision, and...
- 5/29/2012
- by Adam B. Vary
- EW.com - PopWatch
You know a day is off to quite a cute/interesting start when you hop in the car and think to yourself "I'm going to be surrounded by all things Smurfs for most of the day." That's how one morning started for me as I sped down a wretched Los Angeles freeway over to the friendly-looking Sony Pictures Animation headquarters. The minute you stepped on their lot you were practically surrounded by Smurfs in the forms of balloons, little cardboard cut outs and tiny figurines who were happily eyeing you as you swooped in to grab the magical elixir of the caffeine gods, better known as coffee.Next thing you know, a large group of now-awake reporters were brought into a screening room. Producer Jordan Kerner went to the front of the room, explaining in detail about how they carefully put together "The Smurfs" movie in honor of its creator Peyo.
- 6/29/2011
- LRMonline.com
Welcome to round 2 of Setup Squad, Logo’s dating docu-reality show, which is like a cross between Intervention for hopeless singles and Fight Club for the staff.
As the funky bunch sits at the firm’s conference table, Renee introduces the next two clients. First is Toy, a 34-year-old woman with "a lot of personality." This isn’t the type of toy found in the teddy bear section of F.A.O. Schwartz; this is the type of toy you find in the Rockstar Games section of Gamestop, the section where you find video games where you roam the streets with an Uzi and mow people down at will.
Toy’s idea of snagging an eligible bachelor is peppering the poor bastard with questions about his dating history, willingness to get hitched, personality flaws, criminal history, medical records, oral hygiene, tax returns, willingness to be a whipping boy on a...
As the funky bunch sits at the firm’s conference table, Renee introduces the next two clients. First is Toy, a 34-year-old woman with "a lot of personality." This isn’t the type of toy found in the teddy bear section of F.A.O. Schwartz; this is the type of toy you find in the Rockstar Games section of Gamestop, the section where you find video games where you roam the streets with an Uzi and mow people down at will.
Toy’s idea of snagging an eligible bachelor is peppering the poor bastard with questions about his dating history, willingness to get hitched, personality flaws, criminal history, medical records, oral hygiene, tax returns, willingness to be a whipping boy on a...
- 5/3/2011
- by Grace Chu
- The Backlot
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