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Special Effects (SFX or SPFX) are unusual visual and/or sound effects that augment and extend the limitations of photography or recording, allowing for scenes and situations that cannot be achieved through conventional film or sound recording. Special effects may be visual, auditory, or mechanical. Visual effects involve the manipulation of photographs by means of an optical printer or computer graphics. Mechanical effects typically depend on mechanical props, pyrotechnics or scenery manipulation.

History

Pre-Movies

Special Effects pre-date movies, with the use of double-exposures and other photo manipulation techniques to create photographs of the impossible.

Early Movies

• Stage magician Georges Méliès is credited with accidentally creating the first cinematic special effect. He was filming a street scene in Paris, when the camera jammed. He was able to get it going again. When he watched the resultant film, it appeared that a bus turned into a hearse before his eyes! What had happened is that the camera was filming the bus when it stopped. The bus moved out of the frame, and coincidentally, a hearse was in about the same spot when Méliès got the camera going again.

Animation

• See also Animation

CGI

• See also CGI

Sound Effects

Notable Films

Notable Artists

Notable Companies

Additional Terms and Articles

• Special Effects Artists Category

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