Knowing what CGI is

For those who don't know what CGI is, like me, who was wondering what it was and had to do some research, I discovered that it stands for Computer Image Generation. It's specialized software for creating visual content used in film, television series, video games, etc., whether in animation or still images. It's used to create special effects in any scene, whether it involves living beings or landscapes in 2D and 3D. This helps filmmakers recreate incredible, previously only imagined, scenarios with lifelike, animated creatures for the audience's enjoyment.

With the help of CGI, you can create a nuclear war, a futuristic city, a war between peoples, space monsters, incredible spaceships, or a trip to outer space and visit the remote corners of the universe using only a green screen background, when in reality you are taking a journey through the mind and imagination of the screenwriter and director who, in advance, conducted research to fit each event or scientific element into their film.

Interstellar, released in 2014: the CGI visual effects were done by Double Negative, physicist Kip Thorne collaborated to recreate black holes and wormholes, and CGI was used to make physical and spatial simulations.

Winning the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Although CGI didn't play a major role in the film, only in the few essential parts.

We also have James Cameron's Avatar, which you could say is almost entirely CGI. The actors worked with motion-capture technology. Every facial and body expression of Zoe Saldaña was recorded on the computer and transmitted to automatically appear on screen as a Na'vi.

These blue kittens had real people, actors, working behind them, in a slightly more complicated way; these are not the old performances where the actor for each character only had to worry about makeup and clothing.

CGI is a great tool for film and all visual media, including advertisements. You've probably seen a fantastic advertisement on social media, on television, or anywhere else, and wondered how it was made—it's all CGI. However, this isn't always the case, because on the other hand, we don't like watching a film full of CGI, as it detracts from the film's natural feel.

Snow White and Her Dwarfs (CGI). It's a live-action film. Directed by Marc Webb Produced by Marc Platt, p.g.a., Jared LeBoff, p.g.a. Starring Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot CGI helps cut costs for movies, TV series, commercials—anything visual—but it also brings a cold, unnatural visual quality that, while making you see something incredibly wonderful, also makes you feel no empathy for what you see because it doesn't convey the expected human connection.

We have the controversial Snow White, with its CGI dwarfs. If they had used real dwarfs, it would have looked more natural. Because ultimately, Snow White belongs to the seven dwarfs, not the seven CGI ones. Snow White was released in March 2025 and generated considerable controversy among critics and fans, not only because of the CGI but also because the sweet Snow White underwent some changes in the script and her physical appearance. Fans wanted a Snow White film almost identical to the 1937 original, without forced alterations.