Life of Pi and Brave clean up at VES Awards

The Visual Effects Society came through for Life of Pi (like we knew they would), handing it four honours including the Best Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Motion Picture. The Avengers and The Hobbit were consoled with two wins and one win respectively.

In the animated categories, Brave swept the board, winning all four prizes for effects in animated films. It's a beautiful film with great effects and all, but I gotta say:

ParaNorman = robbed.

Just saying.

All the winners after the jump.

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture
Life of Pi

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Feature Motion Picture
The Impossible

Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
Brave

Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
Life of Pi - Richard Parker

Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
Brave - Merida

Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
The Avengers - Midtown Manhattan

Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
Brave - The Forest

Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Outstanding Models in a Feature Motion Picture
The Avengers - Helicarrier

Outstanding FX Simulation Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
Brave

Outstanding FX Simulation Animation in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
Life of Pi - Storm of God

Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture
Life of Pi - Storm of God

Visionary Award
Ang Lee

Lifetime Achievement Award
Richard Edlund

With special fx spectacles ruling the box office roost year in and year out, there's always lots to pick from for my own Best Visual Effects slate:

The Avengers (Janek Sirrs, Daniel Sudick, Marc Chu, Susan Pickett):

The effects can't help but feel familiar in the context of this Marvel universe (since we've seen them in several movies already), but that makes them no less sensational. If anything, the work on this one is even more extensive and plentiful.

The Dark Knight Rises (Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Mark Weingartner, Tom Struthers):

More dazzling practical effects from Nolan's recently Oscar'd team. The effort that went into capturing as many in-camera spectacles as this film does should not go under-appreciated – Not to undersell the effectiveness of the CG, which is seamlessly integrated when needed.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, Richard Taylor):

Weta's performance-capture technology (used here on the trolls, goblins, Gollum, and others) continues to impress, while more complicated work had to be put into the forced perspective techniques that diminish the size of the dwarfs and Bilbo.

Life of Pi (Bill Westenhofer, Donald R. Elliot, Erik de Boer, Mike Meaker):

No denying that the film is stunning. The lush 3D photography in conjunction with the digitized environments account for many a jaw-dropping frame, and Richard Parker is as convincingly realized as any CG character ever put on screen.

ParaNorman (Brian Van't Hul, Brad Schiff, Daniel R. Casey, Steve Emerson):

The meticulously crafted environs are marvellously embellished by some truly kick-ass visual effects, such as the witch's face in the storm clouds or the intense finale in the woods. Subtler touch-up work also makes this a winning combo stop-motion and CG.

Just missed: Cloud Atlas, The Impossible, Prometheus, Snow White and the Huntsman, Ted