VFX: When reality gets rendered
Mar 02, 2025 – [[read-time]] minute read
When it comes to filmmaking, visual effects artists are the stagehands you never see, yet whose work dictates the very reality you perceive. They're the puppeteers of pixels, the architects of illusion, and the silent partners in every cinematic spectacle that leaves you wondering, "How did they do that?" But beyond the flashy effects, there’s a growing VFX community on YouTube that is building something more — a collaborative space for learning and innovation.
Although the terms “animation,” “CGI,” “special effects,” and “VFX” are used interchangeably, VFX content refers to the integration of live-action footage or CGI elements to digitally create realistic imagery. VFX artists on YouTube, whether part of industry teams, working independently, or experimenting as amateurs, produce a wide array of content, including scene recreations, analysis, tutorials, and wholly original works. For instance, Corridor Crew’s YouTube channel gained popularity for their “VFX Artists React” series, critiquing bad and good examples of VFX reactions, and has now received more than 1.8B channel views, alone.*
We’re seeing more and more creative innovation on YouTube as VFX tools, once limited to professionals and studios, become widely accessible. VFX creators can introduce new, often satirical, concise, and economical sensibilities into the process, pushing the boundaries of aesthetic innovation. By producing content for a community rather than a studio, they are able to forge a direct connection between viewers and the limitless power of imagination.
As today’s 97th Academy Awards spotlight the best of the best in movies, we’re honoring VFX artists with our special YouTube logo (known as the Yoodle) and a curated playlist. Plus, check out this video by Corridor Crew and follow them as they explore the art of VFX on YouTube!
*Source: YouTube data, Global, Lifetime.