If there’s one thing nearly everyone agrees on about Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame it’s that they looked freaking cool. From Doctor Strange’s tricks to the final epic battle with Thanos, the films were a well-choreographed dance of practical effects, CGI, and some very awesome props.
But how did Marvel make it all happen? Lots of help. The studio called on everyone from Industrial Light and Magic to Weta to create digital effects for the movies. Weta, along with others, worked on turning Josh Brolin’s mocap performance into Thanos; ILM transformed Mark Ruffalo’s into Smart Hulk. (You know he’s Smart Hulk because he’s wearing glasses and a sweater.) VFX houses also stepped in to turn Chris Evans into Old Captain America.
Then there was Thor. As you might recall, the God of Thunder got a little depressed in Endgame and it affected his physique, resulting in Lebowski Thor. Although it might seem like that, too, was CGI, most of the look was created with a body suit courtesy of Legacy Effects. “Every little hair on that thing, every little bit of skin patch, it’s super convincing,” says Jen Underdahl, the visual effects producer on Endgame.
Want to know more about the effects that went into Infinity War and Endgame? Watch the video above.
More Great WIRED Stories
- xkcd’s Randall Munroe on how to mail a package (from space)
- Why “zero day” Android hacking now costs more than iOS attacks
- Free coding school! (But you’ll pay for it later)
- This DIY implant lets you stream movies from inside your leg
- I replaced my oven with a waffle maker, and you should too
- 👁 How do machines learn? Plus, read the latest news on artificial intelligence
- 🏃🏽♀️ Want the best tools to get healthy? Check out our Gear team’s picks for the best fitness trackers, running gear (including shoes and socks), and best headphones.
