Gourt Home::Gourt :: Timeline of CGI in film and television
Pioneering uses of computer-generated imagery in film and television:
1970s
| Image | Film | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Notes | ||
| Westworld | 1973 | |
| First use of 2D computer digitized images as part of a feature film (infrared point of view of Gunslinger robot). | ||
| Futureworld (sequel of Westworld) | 1976 | |
| First use of 3D computer graphics for animated hand and face. Used 2D digital compositing to materialize characters over a background. | ||
| A New Hope | 1977 | |
| First use of 3D vector graphics for the trench run briefing sequence. | ||
| Alien | 1979 | |
| Used raster wireframe rendering for navigation monitors in the landing sequence. | ||
| The Black Hole | 1979 | |
| Disney uses CGI for the opening titles. | ||
1980s
| Image | Film | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Notes | ||
| Looker | 1981 | |
| First CGI human character, Cindy. First use of shaded 3D CGI as we think of it today. | ||
| The Wrath of Khan | 1982 | |
| ILM computer graphics division develops "Genesis effect", first use of fractal-generated landscape in a film. | ||
| Tron | 1982 | |
| Extensive use of 3D CGI including the famous Light Cycle sequence. | ||
| The Professional: Golgo 13 | 1983 | |
| The first anime title to use CGI (opening credits and helicopter attack sequence). | ||
| Odyssey Two | 1984 | |
| CGI was used to create thousands of monoliths for the end sequence. | ||
| The Last Starfighter | 1984 | |
| Uses CGI for all spaceship shots, replacing traditional models. First use of 'integrated CGI' where the effects are supposed to represent real world objects. | ||
| The Adventures of André and Wally B. | 1984 | |
| Lucasfilm's computer animation division creates an all-CGI animated short. The first CGI animation with motion blur effects and squash and stretch motion. | ||
| Lensman (SF Shinseiki Lensman) | 1984 | |
| First anime to make extensive use of CGI. | ||
| Young Sherlock Holmes | 1985 | |
| Lucasfilm creates the first photorealistic CGI character, 'stained glass knight'. | ||
| The Black Cauldron | 1985 | |
| The first Disney animated feature to contain computer generated objects. | ||
| Dire Straits - Money for Nothing | 1985 | |
| First computer generated music video. | ||
| Flight of the Navigator | 1986 | |
| The first use of reflection mapping in a feature film, used for the flying alien spacecraft. | ||
| Labyrinth | 1986 | |
| First realistic CGI animal | ||
| The Great Mouse Detective | 1986 | |
| First major use of computer animation in an animated film, the depiction of Big Ben's gears as background in one of the final segments. | ||
| The Voyage Home | 1986 | |
| First use of the Cyberwave 3D scanner, first 3D morphing | ||
| Luxo Jr | 1986 | |
| Pixar's first fully 3D animated short film. First use of shadows in CGI. First CGI film to be nominated for an Academy award. | ||
| No image | Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future (TV show) | 1986 |
| It was the first TV series to include characters modeled in 3D entirely within the computer. | ||
| Knightmare | 1987 | |
| First game show with interaction between humans and computer generated surroundings. | ||
| The Abyss | 1989 | |
| First 3D digital water effect. | ||
| Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade | 1989 | |
| First all-digital composite. | ||
1990s
| Image | Film | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Notes | ||
| Total Recall | 1990 | |
| Use of motion capture for CGI characters. | ||
| Die Harder | 1990 | |
| First digitally-manipulated matte painting. | ||
| RoboCop 2 | 1990 | |
| First use of real-time computer graphics or "digital puppetry" to create a character in a motion picture. | ||
| No image | Backdraft | 1991 |
| First use of photorealistic CG fire in a motion picture. | ||
| Judgment Day | 1991 | |
| First realistic human movements on a CG character. First use of a personal computer to create major movie 3D effects. | ||
| Death Becomes Her | 1992 | |
| First human skin CG software. | ||
| VeggieTales | 1993 | |
| First completely computer animated video. Video titled "Where's God when I'm Scared?" | ||
| Jurassic Park | 1993 | |
| First photorealistic CG characters. | ||
| Babylon 5 | 1993 | |
| First television series to use CGI as the primary method for its visual effects. First TV use of virtual sets. | ||
| No image | The Flintstones | 1994 |
| First digital fur. | ||
| ReBoot | 1994 | |
| First computer animated television series. | ||
| No image | Waterworld | 1995 |
| First realistic CG water *. | ||
| Casper | 1995 | |
| First CGI lead character in feature-length film (preceded Toy Story by six months). First CGI characters to interact realistically with live actors. | ||
| Toy Story | 1995 | |
| First CGI feature-length animation. | ||
| No image | Conceiving Ada | 1997 |
| First 2D all-CGI backgrounds with live actors. | ||
2000s
| Image | Film | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Notes | ||
| The Spirits Within | 2001 | |
| First realistic feature-length CGI movie. | ||
| Boy Genius (film) | 2001 | |
| First CGI feature length movie made using off-the-shelf hardware and software. | ||
| The Two Towers (film) | 2002 | |
| First use of AI for digital actors (using the Massive software developed by Weta Digital). | ||
| The Matrix Reloaded | 2003 | |
| The Burly Brawl - the first use of Universal Capture, 3D recording of actor's performance, its editing and rendering. | ||
| The Matrix Revolutions | 2003 | |
| Superpunch - the first realistic close-up of detailed facial deformation on a synthetic human. | ||
| Gollum | 2003 | |
| First Digital actor to win an award (BFCA), category created for Best Digital Acting Performance | ||
| Immortel (Ad Vitam) - Casshern - Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow | 2004 | |
| First movies with all-CGI backgrounds and live actors. | ||
| The Polar Express | 2004 | |
| First CGI movie that used motion capture for all actors. | ||
| Elephants Dream | 2006 | |
| First CGI short movie released as completely open source. Made with Open Source software, theatrical and DVD release under Creative Commons License. Unique that all 3D models, animatics and software are included on the DVD free for any use. | ||
See also
External links
- CG101: A Computer Graphics Industry Reference ISBN# 073570046X Unique and personal histories of early computer graphics production, plus a comprehensive foundation of the industry for all reading levels.
- CG production companies and CGI in the movies - detailed historical information
- Milestones in Film History: Greatest Visual and Special Effects
"Timeline of CGI in film and television"