The Visual Effects Society is the guild that represents all visual effects artists in the industry, a small subset of which are members of the Academy. Their choices can sometimes predict the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
VISUAL EFFECTS SOCIETY AWARDS
Legend:
Winner Predictions:
Wesley Lovell Pete Patrick Thomas LaTourrette
Runner-Up Predictions:
Wesley Lovell Pete Patrick Thomas LaTourrette
Best Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature
Better Man Nil
Dune: Part Two WL PP TL
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes WL PP TL
Mufasa: The Lion King Nil
Twisters Nil
Wesley Lovell: Two visual effects titans compete against one another in a battle to the finish. Dune: Part Two will likely confirm its victory but don’t count out Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes even if both suffer from sequelitis.
Pete Patrick: Dune: Part Two has the most overall nominations so obviously they love it, but Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is popular as well, so I would say either one could take it.
Thomas La Tourette: It would be shocking if anything but Dune: Part Two won this.
Best Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature
Blitz Nil
Civil War WL PP TL
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 Nil
Nosferatu WL PP TL
Young Woman and the Sea Nil
Wesley Lovell: Civil War was the only Oscar finalist on this list. Even if it wasn’t nominated, that suggests it has a lot of supporters.
Pete Patrick: Nosferatu is in the spotlight right now, so it probably has the edge of Civil War which was popular earlier in 2024.
Thomas La Tourette: These seem an odd choice of nominees. I think Nosferatu may win but could see Blitz or more likely Civil War taking the prize home.
Best Visual Effects in an Animated Feature
Inside Out 2 PP TL
Moana 2 Nil
Transformers One WL
Ultraman: Rising Nil
The Wild Robot WL PP TL
Wesley Lovell: The Wild Robot seems to be running the board, so I wouldn’t expect it to lose.
Pete Patrick: The Wild Robot is the clear favorite here with Inside Out 2 a possible spoiler.
Thomas La Tourette: The Wild Robot had the most noticeable visual effects with both the wildfire and the scenes inside the research facility, so it will probably win.
Best Character in a Photoreal Feature
Noa – Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes WL PP TL
Raka – Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes WL PP
Robbie Williams – Better Man TL
Taka – Mufasa: The Lion King Nil
Wesley Lovell: There’s a case to be made for vote-splitting but I suspect one of the two Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes nominees will come out on top.
Best Character in an Animation Feature
Anxiety – Inside Out 2 TL
Gromit – Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl WL PP
Roz – The Wild Robot WL PP TL
Vic Diamond – Thelma the Unicorn Nil
Wesley Lovell: Roz is surprisingly emotive for a robot with no mouth. That could be enough for it to win.
Best Created Environment in a Photoreal Feature
The Arrakeen Basin – Dune: Part Two WL TL
The Emerald City – Wicked WL PP TL
Rome – Gladiator II PP
Washington D.C. – Civil War Nil
Wesley Lovell: While I would normally pick Dune: Part Two to win, the massiveness that was The Emerald City and how unique and interesting it was might be sufficient to secure its victory.
Best Created Environment in an Animated Feature
Aqueduct – Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl PP TL
The Forest – The Wild Robot WL PP TL
Iacon City – Transformers One Nil
Juniper City – Kung Fu Panda 4 WL
Wesley Lovell: Tough call but The Wild Robot‘s forest was vast and alive.
Best Effects Simulations in an Photoreal Feature
Atomic Explosions and Wormriding – Dune: Part Two WL PP TL
Burning Village, Rapids and Floods – Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes WL TL
Water, Fire & Symbiote Effects – Venom: The Last Dance Nil
Twisters PP
Wesley Lovell: Dune: Part Two should pick up another prize but I wouldn’t count out one of the water-related films as water simulation is always a challenge.
Best Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature
Kung Fu Panda 4 Nil
Moana 2 WL PP
Ultraman: Rising TL
The Wild Robot WL PP TL
Wesley Lovell: The wildfire in the forest of The Wild Robot along with the spray of the ocean in certain scenes should put the film over the edge.
Best Special (Practical) Effects in a Photoreal or Animated Project
Blitz WL PP TL
Constellation PP TL
The Penguin; Safe Guns WL
Wesley Lovell: It’s hard to say with this category, especially with no incredibly popular pictures in the list but The Penguin has been well regarded and I can imagine it taking the trophy.
Best Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project
Ant-Man Arena – Deadpool & Wolverine PP
The Colosseum – Gladiator II WL TL
The Harkonnen Harvester – Dune: Part Two WL PP
Renaissance Space Station – Alien: Romulus TL
Wesley Lovell: There’s a case to be made for each of these structures being considered cool enough to win but the Harkonnen Harvester was such an important interactive element that you have to believe it has a good shot at winning.
Best CG Cinematography
Arrakis – Dune: Part Two WL PP TL
Better Man TL
Egg Climb – Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes WL PP
The Red Dragon and the Gold; Battle at Rook’s Rest – House of the Dragon, Season 2 Nil
Wesley Lovell: Dune: Part Two was nominated for Best Cinematography and although CG cinematography is a different beast, it still suggests the overall appeal of the film may bolster its chances here.
Best Compositing & Lighting in a Photoreal Feature
Better Man Nil
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes WL PP TL
The Wild Robot PP
Wormriding, Geidi Prime, and the Final Battle – Dune: Part Two WL TL
Wesley Lovell: Dune: Part Two‘s wormriding, Geidi Prime, and final battle scenes were filled with tons of effects and compositing that much detail into a visually cohesive whole is a challenge they’ll likely reward.
Emerging Technology Award
Nil
Artis-Driven Machine Learning Character – Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga WL
Neural Performance Toolset – Here TL
Nuke CopyCat – Dune: Part Two WL PP TL
Phase Synced Flash-Gun System – The Penguin Nil
Real-Time Interactive Filmmaking, from Stage to Post – Mufasa: The Lion King PP
Wesley Lovell: This one I’m not sure of. Dune: Part Two is probably going to win but I could imagine Furiosa surprising.
