Timeline of computer animation in film and television

This is a chronological list of films and television programs that have been recognised as being pioneering in their use of computer-generated imagery.

1970s

Film	Year	Notes
Metadata	1971	An experimental 2D animated short by Peter Foldes drawn on a data tablet, who used the world's first key frame animation software, invented by Nestor Burtnyk and Marceli Wein.
Westworld	1973	First use of 2D computer animation in a significant entertainment feature film. The point of view of Yul Brynner's gunslinger was achieved with raster graphics.
Futureworld	1976	First use of 3D computer graphics for animated hand and face. Used 2D digital compositing to materialize characters over a background.
Star Wars	1977	First use of an animated 3D wire-frame graphic for the trench run briefing sequence.
The Black Hole	1979	Used raster wire-frame model rendering for the open credits depicting a 3D wireframe of a black hole.
Alien	1979	Used raster wire-frame model rendering for navigation monitors in the landing sequence.

1980s

Film	Year	Notes
Looker	1981	First CGI human character, Cindy. First use of shaded 3D CGI as we think of it today.
Wolfen	1981	First use of in-camera effect for thermal vision sequence (see Predator).
The Works	1982	The New York Institute of Technology Computer Graphics Lab premiered a trailer at SIGGRAPH for their CGI project. This would have been the first feature-length CGI film, but it was never completed.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan	1982	ILM computer graphics division develops "Genesis Effect", first use of fractal-generated landscape in a film. Bill Reeves leads the Genesis Effect programming team, and creates a new graphics technique called Particle Systems.
Tron	1982	Extensive use (15 min. fully computer generated) of 3D CGI including the famous Light Cycle sequence. Also includes very early facial animation (for the Master Control Program).
Rock & Rule	1983	First animated film to use computer graphics.
The Last Starfighter	1984	Uses CGI for all spaceship shots, replacing traditional models. First use of 'integrated CGI' where the effects are supposed to represent real world objects.
The Adventures of André and Wally B.	1984	Lucasfilm's computer animation division creates an all-CGI-animated short. The first CGI animation with motion blur effects and squash and stretch motion.
Tony de Peltrie	1985	First CGI-animated human character to express emotion through his face and body language.
Young Sherlock Holmes	1985	Lucasfilm creates the first photorealistic CGI character, 'stained glass knight' with 10 seconds of screentime.
Dire Straits - Money for Nothing	1985	The first computer-generated music video. The animators would go on to found Mainframe Entertainment.
Flight of the Navigator	1986	The first use of reflection mapping in a feature film, used for the flying alien spacecraft.
Labyrinth	1986	First realistic CGI animal.
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home	1986	First use of the Cyberwave 3D scanner, first 3D morphing.
Luxo Jr.	1986	First use of shadows in CGI, made with special developed software Renderman. First CGI film to be nominated for an Academy Award.
Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future	1987	First TV series to include characters modeled entirely with computers.
Knightmare	1987	First game show with interaction between humans and computer-generated surroundings.
Willow	1988	First photorealistic use of morphing effect in a feature film.
Tin Toy	1988	First computer-animated short film to win an Oscar
The Abyss	1989	First digital 3D water effect.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade	1989	First All-digital composite.

1990s

Film	Year	Notes
Total Recall	1990	Use of motion capture for CGI characters.
Die Hard 2	1990	First digitally-manipulated matte painting.
RoboCop 2	1990	First use of real-time computer graphics or "digital puppetry" to create a character in a motion picture.
Backdraft	1991	First use of photorealistic CGI fire in a motion picture.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day	1991	First realistic human movements on a CGI character. First use of a personal computer to create major movie 3D effects.
Death Becomes Her	1992	First human skin CGI software.
Quarxs	1993	First broadcast series of animated CGI shorts.
Jurassic Park	1993	First photorealistic CG creatures.
VeggieTales	1993	First completely computer animated direct-to-video release.
Babylon 5	1993	First television series to use CGI as the primary method for its visual effects. First TV use of virtual sets.
Insektors	1993	First computer animated TV series. First use of character animation in a computer animated television series.
ReBoot	1994	First full-length computer animated TV series.
Radioland Murders	1994	First use of virtual CGI sets with live actors.
The Flintstones	1994	First CGI-rendered fur.
Waterworld	1995	First realistic CG water.
Casper	1995	First CGI lead character in feature-length film (preceded Toy Story by six months). First CGI characters to interact realistically with live actors.
Toy Story	1995	First CGI feature-length animation.
Conceiving Ada	1997	First 2D all-CGI backgrounds with live actors.
Marvin the Martian in 3D	1997	First computer animated movie viewed with 3D glasses.
Titanic	1997	First wide-release feature film with major elements rendered under the open-source Linux operating system. Also included a number of advances, specifically in the rendering of flowing water.
Fight Club	1999	First realistic close-up of detailed facial deformation on a synthetic human.
The Matrix	1999	First use of CG interpolation in Bullet Time effects.
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace	1999	First film to extensively use CG for thousands of shots, including backgrounds, environmental effects, vehicles, and crowds. Several CG characters stood alongside real actors in dozens of shots, making them the first CG "supporting" cast members.

2000s

Film	Year	Notes
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within	2001	First feature-length digital film to be made based on photorealism and live action principles.
Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius	2001	First CGI feature length movie made using off-the-shelf hardware and software.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring	2001	First use of AI for digital actors (using the Massive software developed by Weta Digital).
The Matrix Reloaded	2003	The Burly Brawl - the first use of "Universal Capture", the combination of dense (rather than point-based) motion capture and per-frame texture capture.
Gollum from the Lord of the Rings trilogy	2003	First photorealistic motion captured character for a film, Gollum was also the first digital actor to win an award (BFCA), category created for Best Digital Acting Performance
Able Edwards	2004	First movie with all-CGI backgrounds and live actors.
The Polar Express	2004	First CGI movie that used motion capture for all actors.
Elephants Dream	2006	First CGI short movie released as completely open source. Made with Open Source software, theatrical and DVD release under Creative Commons License. Unique that all 3D models, animatics and software are included on the DVD free for any use.
Flatland	2007	First CGI feature film to be animated by one person. Made with Lightwave 3D and Adobe After Effects.
Plumíferos	2009	First CGI feature length movie made using Open Source software for all 3D models, animation, lighting and render process, under Linux operating system.
Avatar	2009	First full length movie made using performance-capture to create photo-realistic 3D characters and a feature a fully CG 3D photo-realistic world.

See also

• Animation
• List of computer-animated films

External links

• CG101: A Computer Graphics Industry Reference ISBN# 073570046X Unique and personal histories of early computer graphics production, plus a comprehensive foundation of the industry for all reading levels.
• CG production companies and CGI in the movies - detailed historical information
• Milestones in Film History: Greatest Visual and Special Effects