This is a chronological list of films and television programs that have been recognised as being pioneering in their use of computer-generated imagery. Computer animation Computer-generated imagery (also known as CGI) is the application of the field of Computer graphics or more specifically 3D computer graphics
| Film | Year | Notes |
|---|
| Metadata | 1971 | An experimental 2D animated short by Peter Foldes drawn on a data tablet, who used the world's first key frame animation software, invented by Nestor Burtnyk and Marceli Wein[2][3][4][5]. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. |
| Westworld | 1973 | First use of 2D computer animation in a significant entertainment feature film. WestWorld of Scottsdale popularly shortened to WestWorld is a sports and convention complex located in Scottsdale Arizona. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. In the Film industry, a feature film is a Film made for initial distribution in theaters and being the "main attraction" of the screening The point of view of Yul Brynner's gunslinger was achieved with raster graphics. Yul Brynner (July 11 1920 – October 10 1985 was a Russian born Actor of stage and film, perhaps best known for his portrayal of the In Computer graphics, a raster graphics image or bitmap, is a Data structure representing a generally rectangular grid of Pixels [1][2] |
| Futureworld (sequel of Westworld) | 1976 | First use of 3D computer graphics for animated hand and face. Futureworld is a 1976 sequel to the 1973 Science fiction film Westworld. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 3D computer graphics (in contrast to 2D computer graphics) are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer Used 2D digital compositing to materialize characters over a background. |
| Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope | 1977 | First use of an animated 3D wireframe graphic for the trench run briefing sequence. Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope (originally released as Star Wars) is a 1977 Space opera Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays |
| Alien | 1979 | Used raster wireframe model rendering for navigation monitors in the landing sequence. Alien is a 1979 science fiction / Horror film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Sigourney Weaver. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) |
| Film | Year | Notes |
|---|
| Looker | 1981 | First CGI human character, Cindy. Looker is a 1981 Science fiction Film. It stars Albert Finney, Susan Dey and James Coburn and was written Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 First use of shaded 3D CGI as we think of it today. |
| Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan | 1982 | ILM computer graphics division develops "Genesis effect", first use of fractal-generated landscape in a film. Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan is the second feature film based on the Star Trek Science fiction Television series, following Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Industrial Light & Magic ( ILM) is a motion picture Visual effects company that was founded in May 1975 by George Lucas and is owned |
| Tron | 1982 | Extensive use (15 min. Tron is a 1982 Disney Science fiction film starring Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn (and his counterpart inside the electronic world Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) fully computer generated) of 3D CGI including the famous Light Cycle sequence. Light cycles are fictional vehicles designed by Syd Mead for the simulated world of the Tron universe Also includes very early facial animation (for the Master Control Program). |
| The Last Starfighter | 1984 | Uses CGI for all spaceship shots, replacing traditional models. The Last Starfighter is a 1984 Science fiction Adventure film directed by Nick Castle. Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) 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 Adventures of André and Wally B is an Animated short made in 1984 by the Lucasfilm Computer Graphics Project which was later spun Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Lucasfilm Limited' is an American Film production company founded by George Lucas in 1971, based in San Francisco California Computer-generated imagery Computer animation is the art of creating moving images with the use of Computers It is a subfield of Computer graphics The first CGI animation with motion blur effects and squash and stretch motion. Motion blur is the apparent streaking of rapidly moving objects in a still image or a sequence of images such as a movie or Animation. Squash and stretch is a common Animation technique applied to characters or machinery in motion giving it a cartoonish feel as opposed to realistic jerky motion |
| Tony de Peltrie | 1985 | First CGI-animated human character to express emotion through his face and body language. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) [3] |
| Young Sherlock Holmes | 1985 | Lucasfilm creates the first photorealistic CGI character, 'stained glass knight' with 10 seconds of screentime. Young Sherlock Holmes ( 1985) directed by Barry Levinson and written by Chris Columbus, depicts a young Sherlock Holmes and Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Lucasfilm Limited' is an American Film production company founded by George Lucas in 1971, based in San Francisco California Rendering is the process of generating an image from a model, by means of computer programs |
| Dire Straits - Money for Nothing | 1985 | The first computer-generated music video. " Money for Nothing " is a song by British group Dire Straits, which first appeared on their 1985 album Brothers in Arms and subsequently Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) A music video is a Short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music most commonly a Song with lyrics The animators would go on to found Mainframe Entertainment. Rainmaker Animation Inc, formerly Mainframe Entertainment Inc |
| Flight of the Navigator | 1986 | The first use of reflection mapping in a feature film, used for the flying alien spacecraft. Flight of the Navigator is a 1986 Disney Science fiction Film about a 12-year old boy David who is abducted by an alien space craft Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) In Computer graphics, reflection mapping is an efficient method of simulating a complex mirroring surface by means of a precomputed texture image In the Film industry, a feature film is a Film made for initial distribution in theaters and being the "main attraction" of the screening A spacecraft is a Vehicle or machine designed for Spaceflight. |
| Labyrinth | 1986 | First realistic CGI animal. Labyrinth is a 1986 Fantasy film directed by Jim Henson, produced by George Lucas, and designed by Brian Froud. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Computer animation Computer-generated imagery (also known as CGI) is the application of the field of Computer graphics or more specifically 3D computer graphics |
| Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home | 1986 | First use of the Cyberwave 3D scanner, first 3D morphing. Star Trek IV The Voyage Home ( Paramount Pictures, 1986) is the fourth feature Film based on the Star Trek Science fiction Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Morphing is a Special effect in motion pictures and Animations that changes (or morphs one Image into another through a seamless transition |
| Luxo Jr. | 1986 | First use of shadows in CGI, made with special developed software Renderman. Luxo Jr is the first Film produced in 1986 by Pixar Animation Studios, following its establishment as an independent film studio Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) A shadow is an area where direct light from a light source cannot reach due to obstruction by an object Computer animation Computer-generated imagery (also known as CGI) is the application of the field of Computer graphics or more specifically 3D computer graphics RenderMan Interface Specification, or RISpec in short is an API developed by Pixar Animation Studios to describe three dimensional scenes and turn them into digital First CGI film to be nominated for an Academy award. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. |
| Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future | 1987 | First TV series to include characters modeled entirely with computers. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) A television program (US television programme (UK or television show (U A computer is a Machine that manipulates data according to a list of instructions. |
| Knightmare | 1987 | First game show with interaction between humans and computer-generated surroundings. Knightmare was an innovative and popular UK television programme for Children, produced by Broadsword Productions for Anglia Television Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) |
| Willow | 1988 | First photorealistic use of morphing effect in a feature film. Willow is a 1988 Fantasy film directed by Ron Howard, based on a story by George Lucas. Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) In the Film industry, a feature film is a Film made for initial distribution in theaters and being the "main attraction" of the screening |
| The Abyss | 1989 | First 3D digital water effect. The Abyss is a Science fiction film that was written and directed by James Cameron in 1989. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) |
| Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade | 1989 | First All-digital composite. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a 1989 Adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg from a story co-written by Executive producer Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Digital compositing is the process of digitally assembling multiple images to make a final image typically for print motion pictures or screen display |
| Film | Year | Notes |
|---|
| Total Recall | 1990 | Use of motion capture for CGI characters. Total Recall is a 1990 Academy Award -winning American Science fiction film. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Motion capture, motion tracking, or mocap are terms used to describe the process of recording movement and translating the movement onto a digital model |
| Die Hard 2: Die Harder | 1990 | First digitally-manipulated matte painting. Die Hard 2, promotionally known as Die Hard 2 Die Harder, is a 1990 Action film, and the first Sequel in the Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) For the technique of creating backgrounds see Matte painting. |
| RoboCop 2 | 1990 | First use of real-time computer graphics or "digital puppetry" to create a character in a motion picture. RoboCop 2 is a 1990 Science fiction film set in the near future in a Dystopian metropolitan Detroit, Michigan. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Digital puppetry is the manipulation and performance of digitally animated 2D or 3D figures and objects in a virtual environment that are rendered in real-time by computers |
| Backdraft | 1991 | First use of photorealistic CGI fire in a motion picture. Backdraft is a 1991 American action - Drama film directed by Ron Howard and written by Gregory Widen. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. |
| Terminator 2: Judgment Day | 1991 | First realistic human movements on a CGI character. Terminator 2 Judgment Day, commonly abbreviated as T2, is a 1991 action / Science fiction film directed co-written Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. First use of a personal computer to create major movie 3D effects. |
| Death Becomes Her | 1992 | First human skin CGI software. Death Becomes Her is a 1992 dark Comedy film directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Goldie Hawn, Meryl Streep and Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) The skin is the outer covering of living tissue of an animal (or plant |
| Quarxs | 1993 | First broadcast series of animated CGI shorts. Quarxs was one of the earliest computer animated series and predated series such as ReBoot, and was created between 1990 and 1993 Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) |
| Jurassic Park | 1993 | First photorealistic CG creatures. Jurassic Park is a 1993 Science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the novel of the same name by Michael Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) |
| VeggieTales | 1993 | First completely computer animated direct-to-video release. VeggieTales is a series of English language children's computer animated Films featuring Anthropomorphic Vegetables Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) |
| Babylon 5 | 1993 | First television series to use CGI as the primary method for its visual effects. Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created produced and largely written by J Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) A television program (US television programme (UK or television show (U First TV use of virtual sets. |
| Insektors[4] | 1993 | First computer animated TV series. Insektors was a 1994 Animated TV series about a conflict between two tribes of anthropomorphic insects the Joyces (an airborne brightly coloured race and the Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) First use of character animation in a computer animated television series. Character animation is a specialized area of the Animation process concerning the animation of one or more characters featured in an animated work Computer-generated imagery Computer animation is the art of creating moving images with the use of Computers It is a subfield of Computer graphics |
| ReBoot | 1994 | First full-length computer animated TV series. ReBoot is a Canadian CGI - animated action-adventure Television series that originally aired from 1994 to 2001 Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) |
| Radioland Murders | 1994 | First use of virtual CGI sets with live actors. Radioland Murders is a 1994 Comedy directed by Mel Smith from a story by George Lucas. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) |
| The Flintstones | 1994 | First CGI-rendered fur. The Flintstones is a 1994 live-action film directed by Brian Levant based on the prime time Hanna-Barbera animated television sitcom of Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) |
| Waterworld | 1995 | First realistic CG water. Waterworld is a 1995 post-apocalyptic science fiction film The film stars Kevin Costner who also produced it Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 |
| Casper | 1995 | First CGI lead character in feature-length film (preceded Toy Story by six months). Casper is a 1995 Live-action Feature film based on the Casper the Friendly Ghost cartoons and comic strips Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 First CGI characters to interact realistically with live actors. |
| Toy Story | 1995 | First CGI feature-length animation. Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-generated Comedy film, directed by John Lasseter and starring Tom Hanks Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 |
| Conceiving Ada | 1997 | First 2D all-CGI backgrounds with live actors. Conceiving Ada is a 1997 movie produced written and directed by Lynn Hershman Leeson. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar |
| Marvin the Martian in 3D | 1997 | First computer animated movie viewed with 3D glasses. Marvin the Martian in 3D or 'Marvin the Martian in the Third Dimension' was an attraction at Warner Bros Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar |
| Titanic | 1997 | First wide-release feature film with major elements rendered under the open source Linux operating system. Titanic is a 1997 Disaster film directed written co-produced and co-edited by James Cameron about the sinking of the RMS ''Titanic'' Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Open source software (OSS began as a marketing campaign for Free software. Linux (commonly pronounced ˈlɪnəks [5] Also included a number of advances, specifically in the rendering of flowing water. |
| Fight Club | 1999 | First realistic close-up of detailed facial deformation on a synthetic human. Fight Club is a 1999 American feature film adaptation of the 1996 novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk, adapted by Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) |
| The Matrix | 1999 | First use of CG interpolation in Bullet Time effects. The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction - martial arts - Action film written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski and Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) In the mathematical subfield of Numerical analysis, interpolation is a method of constructing new data points within the range of a Discrete set of Bullet time (or bullet-time) is a computer enhanced simulation of variable speed (ie |
| Film | Year | Notes |
|---|
| Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within | 2001 | First feature-length digital film to be made based on live action principles. Final Fantasy The Spirits Within is a Science fiction film by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of the Final Fantasy series of Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. |
| Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius | 2001 | First CGI feature length movie made using off-the-shelf hardware and software. Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius is a 2001 computer-animated Film, based on a few five-minute animated shorts shown on Nickelodeon in 2000-2001 The Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Commercial off-the-shelf ( COTS) is a term for Software or Hardware, generally technology or computer products that are ready-made and available for sale |
| The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | 2002 | First use of AI for digital actors (using the Massive software developed by Weta Digital). The Lord of the Rings The Two Towers is a 2002 Fantasy film directed by Peter Jackson based on the second volume of J See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Massive (Multiple Agent Simulation System in Virtual Environment is a high-end Computer animation and Artificial intelligence software package used for generating Weta Digital' is a Digital Visual effects company based in Wellington New Zealand. |
| The Matrix Reloaded | 2003 | The Burly Brawl - the first use of "Universal Capture", the combination of dense (rather than point-based) motion capture and per-frame texture capture. The Matrix Reloaded is a 2003 Film, the second installment in ''The Matrix'' trilogy, written and directed by the Wachowski Brothers Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. |
| Gollum from the Lord of the Rings trilogy | 2003 | First photorealistic motion captured character for a film, Gollum was also the first digital actor to win an award (BFCA), category created for Best Digital Acting Performance |
| Able Edwards | 2004 | First movie with all-CGI backgrounds and live actors. Character overview Originally known as Sméagol, this character was later named Gollum after his habit Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA is the largest film critics organization in the U Able Edwards is a 2004 film directed by Graham Robertson and produced by Steven Soderbergh. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " |
| The Polar Express | 2004 | First CGI movie that used motion capture for all actors. The Polar Express is a 2004 Academy Award -nominated feature film based on the children's book of the same title by Chris Van "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Motion capture, motion tracking, or mocap are terms used to describe the process of recording movement and translating the movement onto a digital model |
| Elephants Dream | 2006 | First CGI short movie released as completely open source. Elephants Dream is a computer-generated Short film that was produced almost completely using Open source software except for the modular sound Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Made with Open Source software, theatrical and DVD release under Creative Commons License. Open source is a development methodology which offers practical accessibility to a product's source (goods and knowledge Creative Commons (CC is a Non-profit organization devoted to expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share Unique that all 3D models, animatics and software are included on the DVD free for any use. |
| Flatland (film) | 2007 | First CGI feature film to be animated by one person. thumb | right | 200px | Flatland the Film This page is about the computer animated film "Flatland" Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Made with Lightwave 3D and Adobe After Effects. LightWave 3D is a high end Computer graphics program developed by NewTek. Adobe After Effects is a digital motion graphics and Compositing software published by Adobe Systems. |
