Studio Breakdown and Demo Reels

Breakdown reels and studio showreels posted here between 2007 and 2022. Each entry keeps the date it was first published and links out to the video.

Part of the VFX Breakdown Archives. 33 entries on this page.

On this page

More breakdown reels

CG Baby in Children of Men

Originally posted 4/14/2007

This featurette shows the behind the scenes process and the visual effects elements needed in creating the Children of Men CG baby – a fully digital infant built by Double Negative for Alfonso Cuaron’s 2006 film, seen up close in one of the film’s celebrated long single-take sequences, where any visible seam in the effect would have broken the illusion instantly. Watch on YouTube.

ILM Developed New Fluid Simulation Tools for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

Originally posted 5/31/2007

As most moviegoers now know, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” contains a 20-minute climactic sea battle in a massive maelstrom. There is said to be more visual effects in this one sequence than are found in many VFX-driven feature films in their entirety.The big challenge in this “Pirates” sequence — and the new film — was the water.here are 3 featurettes Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3.

Sci-fi Monsters Movie Made For about $15,000

Originally posted 9/25/2010

The most anticipated fx movie since Cloverfield, Monsters takes place 6 years after alien monsters overrun Mexico.Utilizing the Sony EX-3, a letus 35 mm extreme adapter and some top notch vfx wizardry, the director, Gareth Edwards has made a true guerrilla film.here is monsters trailer and behind the scenes, the making of monsters. Video 1 | Video 2.

ILM Talks About The Visual FX of Star Trek

Originally posted 5/27/2011

ILM sits down to talk about visual fx shots and setups for the space jump sequence in Star Trek.Part 2ILM talks about the Starship Enterprise’s lighting and weaponry. Video 1 | Video 2.

Compilation of Green Screen Use in Movies

Originally posted 11/23/2011

Everything is not what it seems. This compilation of green screen in movies shows just how much of what looks like a real location is actually an actor standing in front of a blank colored backdrop. Watch on YouTube.

Hereafter Visual Fx Breakdown Reel

Originally posted 4/26/2012

ScaanlineVFX’s stunning breakdown of the compositing work and cg water fx used in the making of Clint Eastwood’s Hearafter film. Watch on YouTube.

The Walking Dead Visual FX

Originally posted 8/2/2012

Check out how Stargate Studios busted out all these cg zombies and assorted visual fx on AMC’s hit series The Walking Dead.Lightwave CG ZombiesCentral Casting Zombies?Cg Zombies

The Visual Effects of Looper

Originally posted 10/22/2012

Scanline VFX created some impressive visual fx shots for the time traveling motion picture “Looper”. Here is one of the scenes that take place in field.This ain’t no Inception.Looper Trailer: Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3.

Look VFX Gore Enhancement Visual FX Reel

Originally posted 11/9/2012

A look at Look VFX’s gore enhancement reel. This is unreal, gore enhancement is a thing. Viewer Discretion is advised! not really, most of this is on TV. Watch on YouTube.

ILM’s Battleship Visual Fx Showreel

Originally posted 12/7/2012

Here’s ILM’s Battleship visual fx breakdown reel recently posted on youtube. I think it’s great when a vfx reel is as elaborate as this and dramatically shows all the compositing layers flying into place. Give that team a raise! Watch on YouTube.

Incredible CG Eagle Attack Video Fools The Internet And Goes Viral

Originally posted 12/20/2012

Have you seen the video entitled “Golden Eagle Snatches Kid” it shows what appears to be an Eagle, swooping down and grabbing a toddler before dropping him to the ground. With ~20 Million views (in one day) people were quite fooled and some where even mad, with internet forensic experts in full force the video went viral, and in the end, it was found to be a fake. Watch on YouTube.

ILM Spoils Us With Another Visual FX Breakdown Reel

Originally posted 1/12/2013

This is the second amazing behind the scenes breakdown video of ILM’s Oscar nominated vfx work on The Avengers. Take an epic journey through the making of the pivotal battle scene at New York City’s Grand Central Terminal. Watch on YouTube.

The Walking Dead Season 3 Visual FX Breakdown Reel

Originally posted 4/8/2013

Now that the 3rd season of the critically acclaimed zombie show is over, why not check out Stargate Studio’s awesome work in this amazing vfx breakdown video, from “The Walking Dead”. Watch on Vimeo.

The Great Gatsby Visual FX Breakdown Reel

Originally posted 11/22/2013

Rising Sun Pictures shows us some of the compositing elements and vfx work that went into the making of “The Great Gatsby”. Redshark has an interesting article detailing the compositing fx work used in The Great Gatsby.Warning, these clip contains spoilers. Video 1 | Video 2.

ILM’s Star Trek Visual FX Breakdown Reel

Originally posted 1/9/2014

Star Trek Into Darkness gets the treatment in this awesome visual effects breakdown reel from ILM. Watch on YouTube.

Weta Digital – Animating The Smaug Dragon With Motion Capture

Originally posted 2/26/2014

This Smaug dragon motion capture breakdown from Weta Digital explains the process behind one of the studio’s most acclaimed creatures. Watch on YouTube.

MPC Releases Their Godzilla Visual Effects Breakdown Reel

Originally posted 11/25/2014

Although, there were some complaints about the Garet Edwards’ Godzilla film, there’s one thing certain: MPC went to town and created some really awesome visual effects! Watch on YouTube.

ILM’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” Visual Fx Breakdown Reel

Originally posted 1/2/2015

ILM put together about a gazillion crazy vfx shots for the Winter Soldier and here’s the vfx breakdown video. Happy New Year! Watch on YouTube.

How Double Negative VFX House Composited Ex Machina’s Ava Robot

Originally posted 1/7/2016

Here’s Double Negative’s breakdown video, highlighting their vfx compositing work on Ex Machina’s beautiful female robot.This Ex Machina Ava VFX work is a great example of digital erasure rather than full CG replacement. Alicia Vikander’s face, hands and voice stayed entirely real in the finished film. Watch on YouTube.

Scanline VFX Breakdown Reel For Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Originally posted 12/25/2016

Here is the amazing visual effects breakdown reel from Scanline VFX for the movie: Batman vs Superman. Watch on YouTube.

Blender and The Man in the High Castle Visual FX

Originally posted 11/5/2018

Blender all grown up. Watch this amazing vfx breakdown video for Amazon’s highly rated series: “The Man in the High Castle”.Get Blender it’s free! Watch on YouTube.

How to Create a CG Bear Fight Scene For HBO’s ‘His Dark Materials’

Originally posted 1/5/2020

Hello, and welcome to 2020! Here is a vfx breakdown video where Framestore discusses their role in creating the bear fight scene in HBO’s “His Dark Materials” TV series. Watch on YouTube.

Come and Watch the Awesome Visual FX on Amazon’s sci-fi space opera “The Expanse”

Originally posted 1/8/2020

Thank Protomolecule that Amazon swooped in and saved The Expanse, and has already renewed it for another season. Check out Spin VFX’s breakdown reel for The Expanse S4: Watch on Vimeo.

Weta Digital Creates Breathtaking VFX Dragons for “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”

Originally posted 2/23/2022

In the latest Marvel film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Weta Digital created some breathtaking VFX dragons. The dragons are a mix of practical effects and digital effects, and they look so real that it’s hard to believe they’re not actually there. Watch on YouTube.

Studio demo reels and showreels

Digital Domain Visual Fx Show Reels

Originally posted 4/27/2007

Wow, these digital domain visual fx show reels are so damn sweet, it just shows the dedication and the attention to detail that these folks have.I didn’t see any transformers sweetness, however these are just badass.DIGITAL DOMAIN 2007 MONTAGEAUTOMOTIVE REEL (2007)CHARACTER ANIMATION REEL (2007) Watch on YouTube.

Stargate Studio Visual Fx Demo Reel

Originally posted 12/19/2009

shooting on location is so pass now. Watch on YouTube.

HBO’s John Adams Visual Fx Reel

Originally posted 3/14/2010

This is an awesome compositing reel of Hbo’s John Adams miniseries. The amount of work that went into this is truly amazing! Watch on YouTube.

The Foundry Animation Showreel 2012

Originally posted 7/25/2012

The Foundry’s latest animation showreel is up! showcasing their animation work on various projects while using their commercially available high-end vfx tools, such as Nuke, Ocula, Mari and Katana.Visit The Foundry Watch on YouTube.

Vray Visual Fx 2012 Reel

Originally posted 10/10/2012

Chaos Group’s V-Ray impressive rendering engine is showcased in their 2012 vfx demo reel. good stuff. Watch on YouTube.

Stargate Studios 2012 VFX Demo Reel

Originally posted 10/27/2012

Stargate Studios, the people behind the cg zombies in The Walking Dead tv series, have just released their 2012 visual fx demo reel. Watch on YouTube.

Fox Studios Picks Up Aaron Sims’ Short Scifi Film “Archetype”

Originally posted 1/24/2013

Fox Studios have bought the rights to the Aaron Sims’ Sci-fi short film “Archetype”, The studio will have “Chronicles” producer develop a feature based on the popular short. Aaron Sim is a concept artist and character designer for every cool film you ever saw.Aaron Sims Company FX Reelwww.aaron-sims.com Watch on YouTube.

The Foundry’s New 2013 Visual FX Show Reel

Originally posted 4/12/2013

The Foundry has released a 2013 show reel featuring the amazing work of many vfx studios who use The Foundry’s top shelf production tools such as: Nuke, Mari, and Modo. Watch on YouTube.

Weta Digital 2019 Visual FX Showreel

Originally posted 10/3/2019

Award winning New Zealand based Visual Fx house releases their 2019 visual FX showreel. Check it out! Watch on YouTube.

More of the archive