Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1544083
2 cgw j a n u a r y • f e b r u a r y • m a r c h 2 0 2 6 UNPARALLELED STORYTELLING: CREATIVITY DRIVES INNOVATION n the realm of computer graphics technology, creativity truly drives innovation. Once an artist has a spark of an idea that they feel compelled to create on screen—whether it's a subtle new shading technique for the so fur of a cuddly animated cat, an entirely new VFX pipeline for a massive planet-destroying mon- ster, or, perhaps most terrifying of all, a gigantic, galaxy-destroying, cuddly cat—they may realize that their trusty set of tools just hasn't quite caught up with their ambitions yet. This need to create is what leads to innovative breakthroughs throughout the industry, paving the way for fresh new ideas and unparalleled dimensions of storytelling. In our cover story, we explore the captivating animation style of KPop Demon Hunters, which has become a true cultural phenomenon with record-breaking viewership world- wide, critical acclaim, and a golden array of awards. Written and directed by Oscar-winners Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the film follows a trio of K-pop superstars who split their time between selling out stadiums and expertly slaying ancient demons. Blending ancient mythology with modern musical storytelling, the film is rooted in Kang's desire to tell a story inspired by her Korean heritage. The Sony Picture Imageworks team developed new facial animation and lighting tools to inject 2D anime-inspired flavor into a dynamic 3D pipeline, delivering dazzlingly colorful visuals that brought the film's stunning dance choreography and action-packed fight sequences to life. "We had to develop new tools and some new ways of thinking about color and light and shaping of characters, but the movie really needed it," Appelhans recalls. "We told every- body, this film lives in the K-pop world. It needs to hold its own when it gets there. So it can't look like the animation version of K-pop. It needs to be just as sleek and glamorous and stylish and high level." Also in this issue, Post editor-in-chief Marc Lous shares a behind-the-scenes look into the thrilling VFX and editing process for Predator: Badlands. For an epic sandstorm sequence, the VFX team transitioned from a backend-heavy, pre-generated approach to a new custom workflow. "We shied to a shot-by-shot approach through FX and light- ing, allowing everything to be rendered physically-accurately as a unified system," explains Wētā VFX supervisor Sheldon Stopsack. "The resulting interaction of light, shadow, and atmosphere—particularly how the sandstorm affects the characters—was driven directly by the large-scale FX caches in each shot." We also dive into the groundbreaking virtual production techniques utilized by En- trenched, a Star Wars fan film that has earned father-and-son filmmaking team Navaz and Roman Dowling the attention of elite Hollywood directors and ILM VFX veterans alike. We wrap the issue with a new installment of Outlook 2026 insights from industry experts, along with notable news from the realms of rendering, virtual reality, cinema robotics, and more. As always, CGW would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their knowl- edge and experiences with our readers. Keep creating, keep innovating, and keep an eye out for cuddly galaxy destroyers. I 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. 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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