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Following yesterday morning’s announcement of the Oscar nominations, five films were named in the 98th Academy Awards Best Visual Effects category. As expected, the news sent a wave of excitement through the global VFX community. From massive franchise entries to emotionally grounded, technically ambitious projects, this year’s nominees represent a wide range of visual storytelling styles.
The films nominated for Best Visual Effects are:
- Avatar: Fire and Ash
- F1
- Jurassic World: Rebirth
- The Lost Bus
- Sinners
With the Academy Awards set for March 15, several artists and supervisors behind these projects reached out to share their reactions. Let’s take a closer look at how some of the industry’s top VFX teams are feeling about the recognition.
Avatar: Fire and Ash — Raising the Bar Again
It wouldn’t be an Oscar season without Avatar in the visual effects conversation.
Avatar: Fire and Ash continues the franchise’s legacy of pushing technical boundaries, and its nomination came as no surprise to anyone watching the evolution of cinematic VFX. Once again, the team at Wētā FX delivered large-scale, emotionally grounded visuals that seamlessly blend performance, environment, and storytelling.
Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, and Daniel Barrett expressed their gratitude and pride following the nomination, emphasizing how much the recognition means to the entire crew.
They highlighted that this nomination reflects the collaboration, dedication, and craftsmanship of an extraordinary team of artists and filmmakers. Being acknowledged by the Academy, especially alongside such a strong lineup of films, was described as a profound honor.
For Wētā FX, Avatar isn’t just another project; it’s a long-term creative commitment, and this nomination reinforces just how impactful that work continues to be.
F1 — Realism at 200 Miles Per Hour
At first glance, F1 might not scream “VFX showcase” in the same way a sci-fi epic does. But that’s exactly what makes its nomination so impressive.
The film relies heavily on invisible visual effects, the kind that audiences don’t notice because they feel completely real. High-speed racing, dangerous environments, and precision choreography all come together through meticulous VFX work.
VFX Supervisor Ryan Tudhope, speaking on behalf of fellow nominees Robert Harrington, Nicolas Chevallier, and Keith Dawson, shared how honored they were to be recognized by their peers.
He described visual effects as a true team sport, emphasizing the importance of collaboration across departments. Tudhope also extended congratulations to colleagues recognized in other categories, including Sound, Editing, and Best Picture, highlighting just how interconnected filmmaking really is.
This nomination is a strong reminder that great visual effects aren’t always flashy; they’re often about realism, restraint, and storytelling clarity.
Jurassic World: Rebirth — Dinosaurs Return to the Oscar Stage
The Jurassic franchise is back in the Oscar conversation with Jurassic World: Rebirth, continuing a legacy that began more than three decades ago.
While details from the VFX team were still emerging at the time of the announcement, the nomination alone speaks volumes. Bringing dinosaurs to life in a way that still feels fresh, believable, and emotionally engaging is no small task, especially for a franchise with such a high bar.
From complex creature animation to large-scale destruction and immersive environments, Jurassic World: Rebirth proves that audiences (and the Academy) still respond to well-executed, story-driven spectacle.
As more reactions from the team come in, this is one nominee that’s clearly roaring its way into the final stretch of awards season.
The Lost Bus — When VFX Serves Real-World Emotion
One of the 98th Academy Awards Best Visual Effects nominees this year is The Lost Bus, a film that blends intense visual effects with deeply human storytelling.
Lead VFX Supervisor Charlie Noble shared how proud and happy the team was of the hundreds of artists and production crew members who contributed to the project. Bringing director Paul Greengrass’ vision to life was described as both a privilege and an honor, especially now that the work has been recognized by the Academy.
What sets The Lost Bus apart is its approach to realism. The film required incredibly complex simulations, particularly fire behavior, but always with emotional honesty and respect for the real events that inspired it.
That sentiment was echoed by John Messina, retired Cal Fire Assistant Region Chief for Northern California. He praised the VFX team for making the fire feel real while still maintaining a human, respectful tone, something that’s not easy to achieve with effects-heavy sequences.
This nomination highlights how visual effects can elevate real-world stories without overshadowing them.
Sinners — Soulful Storytelling Through Visual Effects
Rounding out the nominees is Sinners, a film that blends visual and special effects with genre-defying storytelling.
VFX Supervisor Michael Ralla and VFX Producer James Alexander shared an emotional response to the nomination, describing themselves as humbled and deeply grateful for the recognition.
They emphasized that Sinners is a deeply soulful film, one that takes audiences on a journey across genres, time, and space. Being part of that journey, under the guidance of a visionary and compassionate director, was clearly meaningful to the entire team.
The nomination, they noted, belongs to everyone who poured their heart into the project (fromsS). That includes not just the VFX leads, but also the wider crew, families, and an impressive lineup of VFX partners:
- Industrial Light & Magic
- Storm Studio
- Rising Sun Pictures
- Base FX
- Outpost
- Light Visual Effects
It’s a powerful reminder that modern visual effects are rarely the work of a single studio; they’re the result of global collaboration.
A Strong Year for Visual Effects
The 98th Academy Awards Best Visual Effects nominees showcase just how broad and diverse the field has become.
From cutting-edge performance capture and world-building (Avatar: Fire and Ash), to invisible realism (F1), franchise spectacle (Jurassic World: Rebirth), grounded emotional storytelling (The Lost Bus), and soulful genre-blending (Sinners), the category reflects the many ways VFX supports modern filmmaking.
As we head toward the Oscars on March 15, one thing is clear: no matter who takes home the statue, this is a huge win for the artists, technicians, and storytellers working behind the scenes.
And for the VFX community? It’s another reminder that their work doesn’t just make movies look good, it makes them possible.
Source: awn
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Animost – Vietnam 3D Animation Studio
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