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Game of Thrones Season 5 Visual Effects Breakdown

Posted on by Nate

Titan-of-Braavos-Credit-HBO

Mackevision has released a video on Vimeo detailing the extensive work that the Visual Effects (VFX) department puts into Game of Thrones. The video follows the before and after of various sets including Braavos, The Sept of Baelor, and King’s Landing!

Check out the video after the cut!


 

The video gives a unique perspective to the viewers and allows us to applaud the VFX department and their efforts! I myself really enjoyed the Titan of Braavos effects! What part did you enjoy? Let us know what you thought of the video in the comments below!

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Nate

36 Comments

  1. Braavos as a whole was great. So were Valyria and the Volantis bridge. But of course, all that pales when one thinks of the ENORMOUS WORK and the long days, weeks, months they put into the Hardhome battle and the dragons, especially Drogon in the arena, but also Rhaegal and Viserion snacking on one of the roasted masters.

  2. What I enjoy most about the VFX in Game of Thrones is the fact that you don’t necessarily know that it’s there. I know from previous videos that the Titan and the ships are fake, but they look so real. The effects aren’t in your face. You are not supposed to go “oh, wow, awesome effect”, but instead to totally believe this world as it was created by the digital effects people. That’s what effects should be about – making things look more real.

  4. They did a great job on Braavos, alas we really don’t get to see enough of it!
    It clever how the Titan would show up in the distance in many scenes in episodes and if you didn’t look for it you would miss it.

    There is a big building that Mace gestures to, is that supposed to be the Iron Bank?

  6. Always enjoy these videos more than I think I’m going to. For a TV show, the VFX on Game of Thrones is second to none. I think there were a couple of points with Drogon during last season where they struggled slightly but I can’t criticise them for it. It must be so much harder to make something alive seem real, especially when it has to then interact and have direct contact with the actors.

    The cityscapes are amazing. We probably take it for granted but it’s so great that they’ve always stuck to the approach of shooting on location and then enhancing these European cities with effects rather than trying to create outdoor locations in a studio or solely with a green screen. It works so much better when its a real location being topped up by CGI.

    Can’t wait to see what new Game of Thrones locations will be up next season.

  7. It’s always incredible to see how many things in scenes aren’t really there. While watching I never imagine that this (flag) or that (branch) were added with visual effects. Why would I, to be honest? Even the smallest of things make a difference though, and doing it so well…

  8. The Braavos effects were so good. The team doesn’t forget the details from all angles. When Mace is talking with the Iron Banker you could see the Titan behind them. As they are walking away from the statute it gets a bit smaller. They walk around and we see a far away shot of another side. I have seen shows and movies that forget to do the other sides. A giant statute suddenly disappears from other angles.

    The team pays attention and knows you would see the Titan from everywhere in Braavos. That detail helps us be part of that world. All of them are great. I was using my personal fav as an example.

  9. Amazing. It must surely be cheaper than trying to do it for real. I think that’s why it’s so stunning visually. Shame they can’t do it with the actors, too! No-one in the world is as beautiful as Martin describes his beautiful characters. I’ve seen pics of Rhaegar and can’t think of an actor with those looks.
    I wonder if people imagined VFX being used like this when they first started, I always imagined it would be for totally unreal scenes, rather than to make things more realistic. Braavos is just stunning.

  10. The effects are so well done in general on this show. Hardhome was fantastic from head to toe. I wish that they had done a better job with Dany flying on Drogon. That’s the first time while watching this show that it felt underwhelming. Still pretty great tho.

  11. Off Topic:

    Just saw Ex Machina. What a great movie!

    Had a Blade Runner feel to it.

    I really love High Fantasy like GoT but wish there would be some kind of series that has Blade Runner/Ex Machina/Ergo Proxy elements to it as well…

  14. I don’t recall seeing that final shot of KL from high outside the city… anybody know when that was used? Maybe it wasn’t used at all.

    Cool video, fer sure.

  15. Sister Kisser,

    It was used on episode 6 when Lady Olenna is arriving, right before she throws that epic line.
    “Bah, you can smell the shit from 5 miles away”

  16. Ashara Dayne: Shame they can’t do it with the actors, too! No-one in the world is as beautiful as Martin describes his beautiful characters.

    Never mind Rhaegar – if they could do it with people I’d want them enhance how I look. Some people can work wonders with make-up though. These examples were very good. I know some folk were not too keen on Dany flying off on Drogon but I’m willing to give them a pass on it – it’s a TV show not a multi-million Hollywood blockbuster. I suppose the feature last year about the drone flying around the Osuna ring was of the drone filming for Drogon’s flight.

    BL – I hope we see something of Croatia this year. Who can guess if they are running out of book story? Depends where next season is set I guess. I made a quip about being the only person not upset that the Iron Islands were cut but seems I spoke so soon, but I Euron is a book character so there is SOME book stuff left.

  17. Clob: …Even the smallest of things make a difference though, and doing it so well…

    So true. Did you see the addition of the flying birds and smoke from the chimneys? You wouldn’t think such small things could add so much to the atmosphere of the whole scene, but seeing the “before” picture again confirms the amount of thought and effort that go into these creations.

    Another fun aspect is realizing that the actors themselves must be awed and amazed at the finished product. They are performing in front of green screens, and emoting to green tennis balls and big hunks of green upholstery shaped like people or dragons. They see the culmination of all the work at the same time we do.

    As far as Croatia, yes, I’m pretty sure there will be more filming there, based on Masie’s glee at finally being the one who will be sending pics from the beach, because Sophie won’t be there this year.

    Who was it from the crew of WotW who kept the countdown clock going? OZ? As soon as we get a date for the first airing, I hope that clock goes back up in the header. As it stands, what is it now? … nine months and counting? Ugh

  18. Dame of Mercia: but I Euron is a book character so there is SOME book stuff left.

    Sorry – it’s too late for me to edit the original post now – should be “but Euron is a book character” – I am most definitely not Euron.

  26. dee,

    what makes it looks so real is called compositing. I won’t go into details on how compositing works and all but i’m a senior student in 3d and we’ve met Rodeo FX ( another FX company working on game of thrones) a couple of times now.

  27. Deesensfan:
    Greenjones,
    Is there a studio in Belfast? Or do they film outside locations there?

    Titanic Studios in Belfast is where they film pretty much all the interior shots. It’s one of the biggest studios in Europe. They use several sets in Northern Ireland for outside locations. The Winterfell-site is roughly 45 minutes outside of Belfast. It’s safe to say that Belfast is the base of operations for GoT in the offseason.

  28. Was there an earlier VFX post? I thought there was but can’t find it now. Anyone have a link? (Sorry)

  32. Deesensfan,

    There’s the Paint Hall in Belfast where most of the interior sets have been built. And then there are castles and outdoor locations all around Northern Ireland that they shoot exteriors and some other interiors at and in.

  34. Angela,

    Thank-you so much!
    I’m not going mad, thank the gods.
    I noticed a couple of replies to my comment there that I’d missed, must have forgotten to check the box I suppose.

  35. Iris,

    aw really, I thought I was watching an up-to-date interview. That was from last year? Wouldn’t Masie still be in Croatia this year? Where’s she going to go when she’s blind?

  36. Ashara Dayne:
    Angela,

    Thank-you so much!
    I’m not going mad, thank the gods.
    I noticed a couple of replies to my comment there that I’d missed, must have forgotten to check the box I suppose.

    You are welcome. It is completely fine.

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