Precursor: 20th Visual Effects Society Nominations (2021)

The latest guild to announce nominations certified that Dune is, far and away, this year’s frontrunner for Best Visual Effects at the Oscars. With 6 nominations to Shang-Chi‘s 4, it’s clear they are head-over-heels for the film by comparison.

Nominations Tallies

(6) Dune, Encanto
(5) Raya and the Last Dragon
(4) Luca, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
(3) Godzilla vs. Kong, Jungle Cruise, Sing 2, Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Suicide Squad

The Nominations

Best Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature

Dune
Godzilla vs. Kong
The Matrix Resurrections
No Time to Die
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Spider-Man: No Way Home

Best Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature

Candyman
The Last Duel
Last Night in Soho
Nightmare Alley
The Tragedy of Macbeth

Best Visual Effects in an Animated Feature

Encanto
Luca
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
Raya and the Last Dragon
Sing 2

Best Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature

.Finch – Jeff
.Flora & Ulysses – Ulysses
.Jungle Cruise – Aguirre
.Venom: Let There Be Carnage – Carnage

Best Animated Character in an Animation Feature

.Encanto – Mirabel Madrigal
.Luca – Luca
.Raya and the Last Dragon – Tuk Tuk
.The Mitchells vs. the Machines – Katie Mitchell

Best Created Environment in a Photoreal Feature

.Dune – Arrakeen City
.Jungle Cruise – Waterfall Canyon
.Spider-Man: No Way Home – The Mirror Dimension
.The Suicide Squad – Valle Del Marre

Best Created Environment in an Animated Feature

.Encanto – Antonio’s Room
.Luca – Portorosso Piazza
.Raya and the Last Dragon – Talon
.Sing 2 – Crystal Theater
.Vivo – Mambo Cabana

Best Effects Simulations in an Photoreal Feature

.Dune – Dunes of Arrakis
.Godzilla vs. Kong – Ocean Water & Battle Destruction
.Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Water, Bubbles & Magic
.The Suicide Squad – Corto Maltese City Destruction

Best Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature

Encanto
Luca
Raya and the Last Dragon
Sing 2

Best Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project

.Black Widow – The Red Room
.Dune – Royal Ornithopter
.Encanto – Casita Madrigal
.The Suicide Squad – Jotunheim

Best Virtual Cinematography in a CG Project

.Encanto – We Don’t Talk About Bruno
.Godzilla vs. Kong – Ocean Battle
.Loki – Race to the Ark (Episode: Lamentis)
.Raya and the Last Dragon
.Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Best Compositing & Lighting in a Photoreal Feature

.Black Widow – Red Room Crashing Back to Earth
.Dune – Attack on Arrakeen
.Dune – Hologram & Hunter Seeker
.Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Macau City
.Spider-Man: No Way Home – Liberty Island Battle & Christmas Swing Finale