How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Anything seen through the camera lens is not visual effects. When that film frame is enhanced with anything else (except for miniatures), that is visual effects and in the movie there are well over 500 visual effects shots, the majority of them supervised by Academy Award®-winning visual effects supervisor Kevin Mack (What Dreams May Come).

Digital Domain approached the visual effects for the movie with the basic intent of creating complementary shots to the film's basic direction in production design, cinematography and makeup. The studio worked closely with those department heads, especially production designer Michael Corenblith, director of photography Don Peterman, and special makeup effects designer Rick Baker to create an integrated and seamless look.

To do so, Mack and his team of 70 artists focused their efforts in a number of key areas. Beginning with the film's opening credit sequence, the artists created a CC (computer generated) landscape for the story and the film's flying approach around Mt. Crumpet to Whoville.

The team extended key locations and sets constructed for principal photography in Whoville, adding architecture depth and complexity as well as heightened environmental conditions, like snowy weather, dreamy alpine vistas, animated clouds and interactive breath for principal characters. The studio also created an elaborate set of shots for the film's signature sleigh ride sequence.

A unique set of CG tools were created for the movie, including a computer program of computer generated, animated Who characters, called the Who "tool kit" which augmented the larger crowd sequences in Whoville.

Working with costume designer Rita Ryack, the effect's team scanned actual costumes to create a "virtual" wardrobe department for the CG Whos.

The artists also created various dedicated animated shots to embellish performances by Jim Carrey and other characters.

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