Precursor: 17th Visual Effects Society Nominations (2018)

With this group, there are three categories to inspect for clues to the Oscar nominees. Of those three, most come from Best Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature while one or two can come from Best Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature. The third category, which became important with Kubo and the Two Strings is Best Visual Effects in an Animated Feature.

There are ten films on the shortlist at the Oscars, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Black Panther, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and Mary Poppins Returns are not in these three categories. That said, Ant-Man and Fallen Kingdom each picked up a nomination from this group, but the others did not. This probably means Mary Poppins is out of the running while Black Panther is now on the ropes. It’s possible to take out Christopher Robin from the main list and replace it with First Man from the second and call that the nominees. I’d even go so far as to say that’s what I would expect. Animation has nothing this year, so they are out of reach and First Man is the only supporting visual effects nominee on the shortlist, making that the likely fifth slot. It’s whether Solo and Marwen, two films that have gotten lackluster or hostile responses (respectively) from critics, can overcome those deficiencies to beat out one of the others.

Nominations Tallies

(6) Avengers: Infinity War
(5) Incredibles 2, Ready Player One
(4) Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
(3) Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Welcome to Marwen

The Nominations

Best Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature

Avengers: Infinity War
Christopher Robin
Ready Player One
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Welcome to Marwen

Best Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature

12 Strong
Bird Box
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
Outlaw King

Best Visual Effects in an Animated Feature

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch
Incredibles 2
Isle of Dogs
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Best Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature

Avengers: Infinity War – Thanos
Christopher Robin – Tigger
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – Indoraptor
Ready Player One – Art3mis

Best Animated Character in an Animation Feature

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch – The Grinch
Incredibles 2 – Helen Parr
Ralph Breaks the Internet – Ralphzilla
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – Miles Morales

Best Created Environment in a Photoreal Feature

Ant-Man and the Wasp – Journey to the Quantum Realm
Aquaman – Atlantis
Ready Player One – The Shining, Overlook Hotel
Solo: A Star Wars Story – Vandor Planet

Best Created Environment in an Animated Feature

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch – Whoville
Incredibles 2 – Parr House
Ralph Breaks the Internet – Social Media District
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – Graphic New York City

Best Virtual Cinematography in a Photoreal Project

Aquaman – Thir Act Battle
Echo – Time Displacement
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – Gyrosphere Escape
Ready Player One – New York Race
Welcome to Marwen – Town of Marwen

Best Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project

Avengers: Infinity War – Nidavellir Forge Megastructure
Incredibles 2 – Undermine Vehicle
Mortal Engines – London
Ready Player One – DeLorean DMC-12
Solo: A Star Wars Story – Millennium Falcon

Best Effects Simulations in an Photoreal Feature

Avengers: Infinity War – Titan
Avengers: Infinity War – Wakanda
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Venom

Best Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch – Snow, Clouds and Smoke
Incredibles 2
Ralph Breaks the Internet – Virus Infection & Destruction
Smallfoot
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse