The Visual Effects Society often links up with the Academy, but their bountiful number of categories can sometimes create confusion, especially when traditional winners get nominated in their top category and off-kilter ones often show up in Supporting Visual Effects.

VISUAL EFFECTS SOCIETY AWARDS

Best Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
The Midnight Sky (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Project Power
Tenet (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
The Witches

Wesley Lovell: Two Oscar nominees contend to win this category with the obvious winner, Tenet, eking out a win over the less recognized feature.
Peter J. Patrick: I haven’t seen enough in this category to make an informed decision,, so this is pure guesswork.
Tripp Burton: Tenet and The Midnight Sky had two of the most impressive effects work of a year without a lot of big action films, but my guess is that voters will go for the practical work of Tenet.
Thomas LaTourette: The only two films that seem likely to win the Oscar are nominated here. Tenet did not rely on as much CGI as The Midnight Sky, yet it still feels likely to win.

Best Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature

Da 5 Bloods (Peter)
Extraction
Mank (Wesley, Thomas, RU:Tripp)
News of the World (RU:Peter)
Welcome to Chechnya (Tripp, RU:Wesley, RU:Thomas)

Wesley Lovell: With none of these films nominated at the Oscars, we’re left to guess, but the period setting of Mank might triumph, though I could see any of the others winning as well.
Peter J. Patrick: I’ll go with Da 5 Bloods over News of the World for this one.
Tripp Burton: With no Oscar nominees here, this feels a little like a free-for-all. My guess is that the importance of the Welcome to Chechnya effects lead it to a win here.
Thomas LaTourette: None of these are Oscar nominated, so that does not help in predicting. Mank used a lot of CGI to create the world of William Randolph Hearst, so perhaps it will win. I will give the runner-up position to Welcome to Chechnya as it may be the first documentary to be nominated here.

Best Visual Effects in an Animated Feature

The Croods: A New Age (RU:Wesley)
Onward
Over the Moon (RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Soul (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
Trolls World Tour (RU:Peter)

Wesley Lovell: When in doubt, go with the destined Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature.
Peter J. Patrick: The effects in Soul were impressive, haven’t seen the other nominees.
Tripp Burton: When in doubt this season, predict Soul.
Thomas LaTourette: No commentary.

Best Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature

Die Kanguru-Chroniken – Kangaroo
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey – Don Juan Diego (Peter, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
The One and Only Ivan – Ivan (Wesley, Tripp, Thomas, RU:Peter)
The Witches – Daisy (RU:Wesley)

Wesley Lovell: The nomination of The One and Only Ivan at the Oscars may suggest the film has a lot of potential, which will explain my prediction, but honestly I couldn’t tell you as I’ve not seen any of these films.
Peter J. Patrick: Total guesswork.
Tripp Burton: No commentary.
Thomas LaTourette: No commentary.

Best Animated Character in an Animation Feature

Onward – Dad Pants (Tripp, RU:Wesley)
Over the Moon – Chang’e (RU:Peter, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Soul – Terry (Wesley, Peter, Thomas)
The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run – SpongeBob

Wesley Lovell: Other than SpongeBob, I could see just about any of these winning with the Soul selection likely being the winner, but other options carrying potential.
Peter J. Patrick: More guesswork.
Tripp Burton: No commentary.
Thomas LaTourette: No commentary.

Best Created Environment in a Photoreal Feature

Bloodshot – Neuralspace (RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Mulan – Imperial City (Peter, Tripp, Thomas, RU:Wesley)
The Eight Hundred – 1937 Shanghai Downtown (Wesley, RU:Peter)
The Eight Hundred – Shanghai Warehouse District

Wesley Lovell: I haven’t seen any of these films, but I expect the more massive 1937 Shanghai Downtown scene might be in for a win.
Peter J. Patrick: I’m thinking Mulan has to win something.
Tripp Burton: No commentary.
Thomas LaTourette: No commentary.

Best Created Environment in an Animated Feature

Onward – Swamp Gas (RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Soul – You Seminar (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
Trolls World Tour – Techno Reef (RU:Peter)
Trolls World Tour – Volcano Rock City (RU:Wesley)

Wesley Lovell: When all else fails, predict the Pixar film with the most popularity.
Peter J. Patrick: Rack another one up for Soul.
Tripp Burton: No commentary.
Thomas LaTourette: No commentary.

Best Virtual Cinematography in a Photoreal Project

Ghosts of Tushima – A Storm Is Coming
The Mandalorian – The Believer (RU:Peter)
The Mandalorian – The Siege (Tripp, RU:Wesley, RU:Thomas)
Soul (Wesley, Peter, Thomas, RU:Tripp)

Wesley Lovell: It’s strange to see Soul here, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it won. That said, I also think the two Mandalorian nominations have a good chance as well.
Peter J. Patrick: Soul, again.
Tripp Burton: No commentary.
Thomas LaTourette: No commentary.

Best Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project

The Mandalorian – Boba Fett’s Ship (Wesley, Tripp)
The Mandalorian – The Rescue, Light Cruiser (Peter, RU:Thomas)
The Midnight Sky – Aether (Thomas, RU:Wesley, RU:Peter, RU:Tripp)
The Witches – Rollercoaster

Wesley Lovell: When it comes to modeling, go with the more prominent ship.
Peter J. Patrick: The Mandalorian impresses here.
Tripp Burton: No commentary.
Thomas LaTourette: No commentary.

Best Effects Simulations in a Photoreal Feature

Bloodshot (RU:Wesley)
Greyhound (Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Monster Hunter (Peter)
Mulan (Thomas, RU:Peter, RU:Tripp)
Project Power (Wesley)

Wesley Lovell: I can’t be certain, but I imagine there’s more effects to simulate in Project Power than any of the other films.
Peter J. Patrick: Let’s throw one to Monster Hunter.
Tripp Burton: No commentary.
Thomas LaTourette: No commentary.

Best Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature

Onward (RU:Wesley, RU:Tripp)
Over the Moon (RU:Peter, RU:Thomas)
Soul (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
Trolls World Tour
The Willoughbys

Wesley Lovell: Once again, it’s time to predict Soul.
Peter J. Patrick: Let’s make it 5 for Soul.
Tripp Burton: No commentary.
Thomas LaTourette: No commentary.

Best Compositing in a Photoreal Feature

Greyhound (Tripp, Thomas, RU:Peter)
Mulan (Peter, RU:Wesley, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Project Power (Wesley)
Underwater

Wesley Lovell: Compositing typically revolves around the layering of numerous effects, which leads me to believe Project Power might have the edge.
Peter J. Patrick: Make it 2 for Mulan.
Tripp Burton: No commentary.
Thomas LaTourette: No commentary.