Computer Graphics World

2 cgw o c t o b e r • n o v e m b e r • d e c e m b e r 2 0 2 5 CELEBRATING INNOVATION & FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE s we wrap up another year of tremendous innovation in the field of computer graphics, we are thrilled to celebrate the technical and creative achievements that have captured our attention and stood out from the crowd. Monumental strides forward in storytelling have caused shockwaves in the realms of animation, visual effects, game development, and immersive experi- ences. Groundbreaking new technology is transforming every stitch of the fabric that de- fines the fields of design, architecture, engineering, and beyond. In our cover story, we explore the visual effects that brought the dazzling world of Wick- ed: For Good from the page to the screen. Packed with captivating new musical numbers, dynamic environments, magical effects, and complex character designs, the film features more than 2,700 visual effects delivered by a team of over 1,000 artists from across the globe. Animation supervisor Dale Newton and visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman spoke highly of working with director Jon M. Chu on such a large-scale creative endeavor. "I love collaborating both with him and then with the animators. Just working with the team, try- ing to draw the best out of everybody, and trying to find that performance that makes the moment as good as it can be," Newton shares. "He's a real collaborator—somebody who asks for ideas—and he listens and he incorporates it into the whole movie," Helman adds. Post editor-in-chief Marc Lous shares an inside look at the VFX of The Lost Bus, a fea- ture inspired by the real-life wildfires that devastated Northern California in 2018. "The con- siderations, obviously, when you're shooting a movie where the principal antagonist is na- ture," VFX supervisor Charlie Noble explains, "is to make sure that everything is undertaken as safely as possible, but also getting as much as we could out of photography." We also spotlight the massive flooding effects and grounded story-based visuals from DC Studios' The Penguin and give a behind-the-scenes look at the hilarious slapstick VFX from The Naked Gun. In the gaming sector, we dive into Aspyr Media's technical pipeline for remastering titles from iconic franchises like Star Wars and Tomb Raider. We focus on the future in our special Outlook 2026 section, sharing unique perspectives and predictions from thought leaders across the industry. Dive into these insights to ex- plore the next leap forward in the areas of virtual production, visual effects, animation, AI, storage, and much more. As always, CGW would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their knowl- edge and experiences with our audience this year. On a personal note, my husband and I welcomed our first child into the world this year. We are absolutely thrilled to see the world through his eyes—the interests he will pursue and the stories he will tell. We feel so lucky that he will grow up in an era when anything feels possible. Your imagination and enthusiasm can take you anywhere you wish to go, and your creativity gives you the strength and courage to push beyond the limits of what once seemed impossible. A R E C E N T A W A R D S E D I T O R I A L CGW MANAGING EDITOR Kendra Ruczak kruczak@cgw.com t: 818.291.1168 POST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Marc Loftus mloftus@postmagazine.com t: 516.376.1087 PUBLISHER/PRESIDENT/CEO William R. Rittwage COP Communications A D V E R T I S I N G DIRECTOR OF SALES: PRINT, DIGITAL, AND AWARDS Mari Kohn mkohn@postmagazine.com t: 818.291.1153 c: 818.472.1491 EDITORIAL OFFICE / LA SALES OFFICE 620 West Elk Ave., Glendale, CA 91204 t: 818-291-1168 D E S I G N SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Michelle Villas michelle@moontidemedia.com ISSUE DESIGNER Kendra Ruczak kruczak@cgw.com C U S T O M E R S E R V I C E / C I R C U L A T I O N Junior Lopez jlopez@copcomm.com t: 818.291.1117 D I G I T A L M A R K E T I N G / S O C I A L M E D I A Tommy Rittwage tommy@copcomm.com t: 818.291.1166 COMPUTER GRAPHICS WORLD MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY COMPUTER GRAPHICS WORLD, A COP COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY. Computer Graphics World does not verify any claims or other information appearing in any of the advertisements contained in the publication, and cannot take any responsibility for any losses or other damages incurred by readers in reliance on such content. Computer Graphics World cannot be held responsible for the safe- keeping or return of unsolicited articles, manuscripts, photographs, illustrations or other materials. Address all subscription correspon- dence to: Computer Graphics World, 620 West Elk Ave, Glendale, CA 91204. Subscriptions are available free to qualified individuals within the United States. Non-qualified subscription rates: USA—$68 for 1 year, $98 for 2 years; Canadian subscriptions —$98 for 1 year and $136 for 2 years; all other countries—$150 for 1 year and $208 for 2 years. Digital subscriptions are available for $27 per year. Subscribers can also contact customer service by calling 818-291-1158, or sending an email to csr@cgw.com. Postmaster: Send Address Changes to Computer Graphics World, 620 W. Elk Ave., Glendale, CA 91204 Please send customer service inquiries to 620 W. Elk Ave., Glendale, CA 91204 Kendra Ruczak Managing Editor, CGW

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