How Did District 9’s VFX Look SO GOOD?

Despite its cripplingly low budget of only 30 million dollars, District 9 was the first film of its kind – Having mind blowing visual effects – which ranged from full CG characters to dynamic weapon effects.

However, with District 9 coming out in 2009 – it meant that the film always existed in the shadow of another major CGI film release that Year: 2009’s Avatar, by James Camereon.

With Avatar being a Goliath success; District 9’s incredible CG and VFX achievements were largely passed over and the film was never given the praise it deserved for changing the way Hollywood approaches its VFX production.

So, with the release of Avatar 2, I thought it was time that we cast a light back on District 9 and explored exactly why this film looks so good, how it did it on such a limited budget, and how it influenced the next decade of VFX.

More VFX analysis here!:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGqkNhCmDpq2I27BVrtfh5ZNz-C-1Q_fl

Sources:
The VES Handbook of Visual Effects: https://amzn.to/3Xtg6mW

https://www.studiodaily.com/2009/09/how-they-did-it-district-9/

https://www.animatrik.com/blog/behind-the-scenes-of-one-of-the-most-iconic-sci-fi-films-of-our-times-the-making-of-district-9

https://www.digitalmediaworld.tv/in-depth/639-district-9-walking-with-aliens

http://archive.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2009/09/06/district_9_owes_its_low_budget_of_30_million_to_some_of_the_directors_other_talents/

https://www.wired.com/2010/10/art-of-district-9/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdUWRhxYapY&ab_channel=Foundry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upG81s75UD4&ab_channel=Foundry

https://youtu.be/yrWbJ54fuDg

https://www.wetafx.co.nz/films/filmography/district-9/

https://theembassyvfx.com/portfolio/district-9

https://image-engine.com/case-studies/district-9/

https://wiki-fx.net/project/district-9/

https://www.upcomingvfxmovies.com/svfx-shots-race/

https://www.maxon.net/en/article/district-9-aliens-bodypaint-3d

https://www.ilm.com/vfx/transformers-age-of-extinction/

https://www.ilm.com/vfx/transformers-age-of-extinction

https://blendswap.com/blend/24175

https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-print-models/miniatures/sci-fi/district-9-prawn

We Like Shooting

We Like Shooting is a major, long-running gun podcast and firearms media brand, broadcasting since 2013. WLS brings together original gun and gear reviews, industry interviews, listener questions, and candid conversations about firearms, training, and gun culture.

In August 2020, Pew Pew Tactical described We Like Shooting as one of the largest firearms podcasts in its coverage of WLS’s interview with founder Eric Hung.

Pew Pew Tactical, published August 19, 2020

Explore We Like Shooting

Start here