Several Eternals costumes were completely CGI

Welcome to your (probably daily) reminder that technology is crazy and that the future is here (whether you like it or not). In Our Lord’s Year 2021, we’re used to seeing a good portion of CGI when it comes to the big, bombastic superhero and action movies. Hell, CGI is so common now that it’s becoming actual news when movies use practical effects instead. However, it seems that Chloé Zhao’s “Eternals” has really increased its ante when it comes to creative use of CGI. These are not just your Michael Bay 500 explosive effects, they are something completely different.

In an interview with Collider, visual effects tutor Matt Aitken left some surprising things about VFX used in “Eternals”. According to Aitken, a few characters had to be wrapped up in full CGI costumes due to the fact that their signature looks still actively changed during post-production. Then, played by Angelina Jolie and able to create sick-looking weapons right out of the blue, was one of those characters. As Aitken briefly explained: “When she is [Thena] in her superhero costume, it’s always completely CG … she’s a CG from the neck down because the design of the suit changed in post-production. “

CGI from neck to toe

Aitken goes on to explain that even though Jolie’s suit was fully CGI, the VFX team worked very hard to make sure everything felt natural like Jolie. From the way she moves, to the way her (very real) face fits into her (significantly less real) CGI suit:

“To get her body performance so that it had the iconic aspect to it, they have cast Angelina Jolie for a reason. And part of that is that she has a way of moving that is almost like a dancer. We made sure we honored it with the digital component of the show, but it’s especially catching her face, that’s what I’m getting around to here, to get that authenticity so we can make a center shot like a digi-double “and it’s not going to be jarring to anyone. It’s not going to jump them out of it. They’re just going to think, ‘Oh, this is another Then battle.'”

And the CGI costume craze didn’t stop there. In an after credits scene, we meet Eros, AKA Starfox, AKA brother of Thanos, AKA Harry Styles. Styles’ last-minute appearance in the film was kept secret until the last second, which meant he also received a cute CGI costume. Moreover, Eros’ costume was still fine-tuned during the filming.

It really makes you wonder if we are heading towards a future where every costume is CGI and film fashion pushes past our current understanding of how clothes look and move and basically work? Maybe! And honestly, that sounds like fun. Give me a “Sex and the City”, but with insane CGI Manolos. Give me a “Devil Wears Prada” filled with Chanel suits that defy gravity. Let’s go all in.

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