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38 cgw | e d i t i o n 4 , 2 0 1 8 are massive structures, massive machines, massive crowds, CG environments including a futuristic, steampunk version of London, now a giant machine. Ready Player One March 29, 2018 Warner Bros. The central theme of virtual reality runs strong in Ready Player One, about a dys- topian future filled with people effectively drugged by VR and a young man's quest to save the virtual world he thrives in and gain a fortune in doing so. This movie can be thought of as three films in one in terms of the work involved. There's the real-time game-engine version used by director Steven Spielberg for previs and production, the 90-minute photoreal animated feature created by ILM in which actors appear as av- atars, and the final film, which includes that virtual world called the OASIS plus live ac- tion with visual effects set in the real world. In summary, a virtual pleasure for sure. Solo: A Star Wars Story May 25, 2018 Lucasfilm/Walt Disney Pictures Whenever a Star Wars property hits the big screen, you know it will be a jaw-dropping experience. And, this was certainly the case here. ILM is one of the best at making digital magic, and for this film, they were led by Rob Bredow, one of today's best digital magicians. They also tapped special creature effects legend Neal Scanlan. Ef- fects work pretty much span the full gamut, including CG characters and objects, di- gi-doubles, set extensions, matte paintings, greenscreens, and more to create vehicles, character performances, otherworldly environments, and spacecra unique to the Star Wars universe. From the speeder chase and train heist to the infamous Kessel Run, the VFX team had an immense challenge in creating over 90 minutes of visual effects required for the film. But the secret here was using state-of-the-art technology to deliver a look and feel of the past befitting the beloved hero, Han Solo. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms November 2, 2018 Walt Disney Pictures The entire film looks magical. However, a large portion of the visual effects are used to bring the kingdoms to life. There are fully CG environments: a land covered in ice, a land overgrown with flowers, and a land covered in candy; they complement sets designed and built for the Fourth Realm and the palace. Separating each realm is a CG river with huge CG waterfalls. (Including all of the smaller wa- terfalls on each realm, CG artists created 23 individual CG waterfalls in all.) Lurking in the Fourth Realm is the Mouse King, a mysterious and monstrous character made up of 60,000 mice. Created entirely in CG, the Mouse King moves in a very cool, very specific way. Editor's Picks: The Nutcracker, Mortal Engines, Black Panther, Avengers, Ready Player One, Jurassic World, Fantastic Beasts 2 ANIMATED FEATURES As of this writing, 25 movies had been officially submitted for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 91 st Academy Awards. Many had limited show- ings within the US, making them relative mysteries outside of film festivals and spe- cial screenings (due to my limited exposure to them, I have le them off my pick list). Dr. Seuss' The Grinch November 9, 2018 Universal Pictures/Illumination Entertainment We've seen the film presented in 2D cell an- imation, live action, and now it is appearing in amazing CGI, brought to life by the artists at Illumination. We all know the story by now, but this holiday tale surely will bring a smile to your face, thanks to the spectacular visuals and expanded world. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation July 13, 2018 Sony Pictures Animation The film takes the characters and animators out of their comfort zone with exotic and challenging locations beyond the familiar hotel grounds of the franchise. Particular- ly challenging was the water, which was everywhere in this film as the gang boarded a cruise ship for this journey. Isle of Dogs April 13, 2018 Studio Babelsberg/Twentieth Century Fox Animation The film is a stop-motion-animated science-fiction film from Wes Anderson, and it clearly carries his unique style. (Many of the animators worked on his earlier creation, Fantastic Mr. Fox.) The hand sculpting was augmented with dig- ital techniques. The film boasts 20,000 faces, and 1,105 animatable puppets were crafted by 12 sculptors. In addition, 2,000 more puppets were made for the background characters. This is a beautiful, well-crafted feature. Ralph Breaks the Internet November 21, 2018 Walt Disney Animation Studios A lot has changed since Ralph and Vanel- lope made their debut in Wreck-It Ralph six years ago. Story-wise, the arcade gets a wireless router, which the two characters use to transport themselves to the Internet. Technology-wise, new techniques from other Disney Animation films have enabled the animators and artists to do more for this film – lots more in terms of the size of the environments and the number of characters. Smallfoot September 28, 2018 Warner Bros./Warner Animation In this cute film, a young yeti searches for a smallfoot (a human) to prove they exist. The team at Sony Pictures Animation, who worked on the film, pushed through technical challenges pertaining to snow and hair development, two of the film's larger technical challenges. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse December 14, 2018 Columbia Pictures-Marvel Animation/Sony Pictures Animation There have been many Spider-Man films over the year, but this is one superhero film that is visually unique. It looks like a comic book that's come to life, in a graphic novel kind of style. In fact, the aesthetic is a result of computer animation mixed with hand- drawn comic book techniques, requiring up to 140 animators, the largest crew ever used by Sony Pictures Animation for a film. Editor's Picks Isle of Dogs, Spider-Man