The Oscar race for Best Visual Effects is sort of interesting this year. Many would call it a done deal for “Interstellar,” the most “prestigious” film of the nominees, more represented in other categories than the rest, etc. But there are others still who contend that “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” is due a little love for amazing strides made in the realm of performance capture. And then there's “Guardians of the Galaxy,” lurking as a possibility both here and potentially in Best Makeup and Hairstyling for those looking to venture out.
It will be up to the full membership of the Academy to decide, but Wednesday night, the visual effects artists themselves had their say at the 13th annual Visual Effects Society Awards. And it was “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” coming out on top in the group's top category. The film actually picked up three awards on the evening, while “Big Hero 6” was a significant favorite in the animated realm, impressively sweeping all of its categories. That support makes you wonder if it can make any moves in the animated feature race; it proves there's love for it outside the animation branch, certainly.
Oh, and speaking of support in other branches, it's worth noting that “Birdman” won in the supporting effects field.
Check out the nominees here, the full list of winners below and, as ever, the rest of the season's offerings at The Circuit.
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture
“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
“Big Hero 6”
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Photoreal/Live Action Broadcast Program
“Game of Thrones” – “The Children”
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Photoreal/Live Action Broadcast Program
“American Horror Story: Freak Show” – “Edward Mordrake, Part 2”
Outstanding Real-Time Visuals in a Video Game
“Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare”
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial
SSE – “Maya”
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project
“Ratatouille: L”Aventure Totalement Torquee de Remy”
Outstanding Performance of an Animated Character in a Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture
“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” – Caesar
Outstanding Performance of an Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
“Big Hero 6” – Baymax
Outstanding Performance of an Animated Character in a Commercial, Broadcast Program, or Video Game
SSE – Maya
Outstanding Created Environment in a Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture
“Interstellar” – Tesseract
Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
“Big Hero 6” – Into the Portal
Outstanding Created Environment in a Commercial, Broadcast Program, or Video Game
“Game of Thrones” – Braavos Establisher
Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Photoreal/Live Action Motion Media Project
“X-Men: Days of Future Past” – Kitchen Scene
Outstanding Models in any Motion Media Project
“Big Hero 6” – City of San Fransokyo
Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture
“X-Men: Days of Future Past” – Quicksilver Pentagon Kitchen
Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
“Big Hero 6”
Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Commercial, Broadcast Program, or Video Game
“Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey”
Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture
“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”
Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal/Live Action Broadcast Program
“Game of Thrones” – “The Watchers on the Wall”
Outstanding Compositing in a in a Photoreal/Live Action Commercial
SSE
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project
“Wrapped”
Visionary Award
J.J. Abrams