There was no doubt that Avatar: The Way of Water would come out on top of this year’s VES nominations, but even 14 is unheard of, a staggering total that certifies there is no competition for James Cameron’s film. That the next three highest nomination totals are animated films with a fourth tied with The Batman and Top Gun: Maverick with three each. Only three Oscar shortlisters didn’t pick up a single nomination from VES, All Quiet on the Western Front, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Nope.

Nominations Tallies

(14) Avatar: The Way of Water
(5) Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
(4) Strange World, The Sea Beast
(3) The Batman, Top Gun: Maverick, Turning Red

The Nominations

Best Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature

Avatar: The Way of Water
The Batman
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
Jurassic World: Dominion
Top Gun: Maverick

Best Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature

Death on the Nile
The Fabelmans
The Gray Man
I Wanna Dance with Somebody
The Pale Blue Eye
Thirteen Lives

Best Visual Effects in an Animated Feature

The Bad Guys
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Mad God
The Sea Beast
Strange World
Turning Red

Best Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature

Honest John – Pinocchio
Kiri – Avatar: The Way of Water
Lion – Beast
Pig – Slumberland

Best Animated Character in an Animation Feature

Geppetto – Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Panda Mei – Turning Red
Pinocchio – Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Splat – Strange World

Best Created Environment in a Photoreal Feature

Biosyn Valley – Jurassic World: Dominion
Metkayina Village – Avatar: The Way of Water
The Reef – Avatar: The Way of Water
The Wondrous Cuban Hotel Dream – Slumberland

Best Created Environment in an Animated Feature

The Hunting Ship – The Sea Beast
In the Stomach of a Sea Monster – Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
The Scream Fair – Wendell & Wild
T’Kani Prime Forest – Lightyear
The Windy Jungle – Strange World

Best Effects Simulations in an Photoreal Feature

City Street Flooding – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
Fire and Destruction – Avatar: The Way of Water
Water Simulations – Avatar: The Way of Water

Best Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature

Lightyear
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
The Sea Beast
Strange World

Best Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project

Dream Faire – Wendell & Wild
F-14 Tomcat – Top Gun: Maverick
The Sea Beast
The Sea Dragon – Avatar: The Way of Water

Best Virtual Cinematography in a CG Project

ABBA: Voyage
Avatar: The Way of Water
Prehistoric Planet
Rain Soaked Car Chase – The Batman

Best Compositing & Lighting in a Photoreal Feature

Landing Rockets Forest Destruction – Avatar: The Way of Water
Rainy Freeway Chase – The Batman
Top Gun: Maverick
Water Integration – Avatar: The Way of Water

Best Special (Practical) Effects in a Photoreal or Animated Project

Adrif, Middle Earth Storm – The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Current Machine and Wave Pool – Avatar: The Way of Water
Mad God
Robotic Flight – Black Adam

Emerging Technology Award

3D Printed Metal Armature – Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Depth Comp – Avatar: The Way of Water
Facial System – Avatar: The Way of Water
Profile Mover and CurveNets – Turning Red
Water Toolset – Avatar: The Way of Water

Visual Effects Society Data

First Awards: 2002 (21)