The Visual Effects Society has announced their list of the most influential visual effects movies of all time. They obviously know what influenced them more than I do, but I am nagged by the feeling that the straight animation films don't belong on the list.
Posted by Mike Chary at May 14, 2007 11:44 PM
I think Snow White fits, because it was so early, and so well done. And Toy Story certainly fits: if a few Renderman-generated effects in The Abyss and T2 merit their inclusion, then certainly an entire *movie* generated by Renderman ought to fit, especially when you consider all the technical invention that was required.
(Pixar's Renderman software was used to do the liquid creatures in the Abyss, and the liquid metal Terminator in T2.)
As Jon says - it's very often about the same tools, and whether one can use them to produce actual stories with.
One movie I think deserves to be on the list is Gone With the Wind. Much of the backgrounds and roofs of buildings were filled in with effects and the burning of Atlanta is pretty darned impressive considering when it was made.
On the pro-animation side, Peter Jackson used shots from the Bashki LOTR film for inspiration and design in his LOTR fims
Snow White was the product of an array of new technologies in animation, but just being the first animated feature film probably earned it's spot on the list. Toy Story also brought new technology to movie effects, but also likely got on the list for being a first. Same for TRON.
I don't think Gone with the Wind qualifies for too much in that respect, as it's effects were nothing new, except for being done in technicolor (maybe).