I have selected what I think are the milestones or developments within the Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) industry from 1973 to April 2005. I have chosen to focus on the productions that have had a universal effect on the 3D industry.
YEAR |
PRODUCTION |
DETAILS |
1973 |
Westworld |
First use of 2D computer graphics in a feature film |
1977 |
Star Wars |
First use of 3D vector graphics |
1978 |
Superman |
First computer generated title sequence |
1981 |
Looker |
First CGI human character |
1982 |
Star Trek II – The Wrath of Khan |
ILM develop the ‘Genesis effect’ |
1982 |
Tron |
Extensive use of 3D |
1984 |
The Last Starfighter |
Real world objects and sculpted models replaced by CGI |
1984 |
The Adventures of Andre and Wally B |
Pixar, previously part of Lucasfilm, create a 3D animated short with motion blur |
1984 |
Dire Straits |
Music video for ‘Money for Nothing’ featuring animated 3D characters |
1985 |
Young Sherlock Holmes |
Lucasfilm develop the first photo-realistic 3D character |
1986 |
Luxo Jr. |
Pixar’s animated short film becomes first 3D production nominated for an Academy Award. First use of shadows |
1987 |
John Lasseter Book |
John Lasseter releases the book ‘Principles of Traditional Animation Applied to Computer Animation’ |
1989 |
The Abyss |
The first 3D water effects, Pseudopod CGI character introduced |
1989 |
Knick Knack |
Pixar produce another short film with particle effects |
1991 |
Terminator 2 |
Morphing techniques and realistic human movement replicated |
1993 |
Doom (game) |
Gaming industry completely transformed with this first person shooter |
1993 |
Jurassic Park |
Fully CGI characters with realistic animation |
1993 |
Renderman |
Pixar’s ‘Renderman’ technology receives a Technical Academy Award |
1994 |
The Flintstones |
First digital fur created |
1995 |
Waterworld |
First realistic digital water effects |
1995 |
Toy Story |
First feature length 3D film released and received extremely well |
1995 |
Geri’s Game |
Pixar’s short with impressive depth of field wins an Academy Award |
1997 |
Titanic |
Realistic water and particle effects developed further |
1998 |
Pixar vs Dreamworks |
Pixar release ‘A Bug’s Life’ as Dreamworks release ‘Antz’. Antz aimed at a more adult audience |
1999 |
Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace |
First realistic interactive CGI character composition |
1999 |
The Matrix |
'Bullet Time' invented and innovative 3D special effects |
2001 |
Shrek |
Dreamworks release Shrek which wins an academy award, Pixar’s Monsters Inc is runner up |
2001 |
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within |
First ultra realistic full 3D film. Exceptional graphics but not received as hoped |
2001 |
The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy |
Weta Digital develop ‘Massive’ software. AI used for digital characters |
2002 |
Ice Age |
Blue Sky produce a feature length animation competing with Pixar and Dreamworks |
2003 |
The Matrix Reloaded |
Multiple ‘clones’ of characters with unique movements |
2003 |
The Matrix Revolutions |
The first close up of 3D skin deformation |
2003 |
Belleville Rendezvous |
Studio Ghibli nominated for a Academy Award and mix traditional animation with 3D |
2003 |
Finding Nemo |
Pixar master digital underwater and water surface CGI. Becomes the most successful animated film of all time |
2003 |
Rustboy |
Brian Taylor develops a short animation with ‘off the shelf’ software and attempts to create studio quality animation with modest tools |
2004 |
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow |
First film with CGI backgrounds used extensively with live actors
|
2004 |
The Polar Express |
First 3D film to use motion capture for all characters |
2005 |
Robots |
Blue Sky follow up Ice Age |
2005 |
Valiant |
The first feature length 3D animated British film |
