VFX Artists Defend She-Hulk’s Controversial CGI

The She-Hulk: Attorney at Law trailer was met with complaints about its CGI being unconvincing, but now VFX artists defend the divisive footage.

Visual effects artists defend the controversial CGI in the She-Hulk: Attorney at Law trailer in a new video. Based on the Marvel Comics character created by Stan Lee and John Buscema, the upcoming She-Hulk series will follow Jennifer Walters, a lawyer specializing in superhuman law. She’s also Bruce Banner’s cousin and shares his ability to transform into a green superhero. Tatiana Maslany stars as Walters alongside Jameela Jamil, Josh Segarra, Ginger Gonzaga, Jon Bass, and Renée Elise Goldsberry. MCU veterans Tim Roth, Mark Ruffalo, and Benedict Wong will reprise their roles as Abomination, Hulk, and Wong respectively. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is set to premiere on Disney+ on August 12.

In May, Marvel released the first She-Hulk trailer, only for it to be met with a large amount of criticism over the CGI used to create the titular character. Many people complained that She-Hulk looked unconvincing, especially next to Hulk, and that at times the character started to cross into the Uncanny Valley. The main complaint from viewers of the She-Hulk trailer seemed to be that She-Hulk’s skin texture was too smooth, and although many fans still remained eager for the new series, criticisms of Marvel’s CGI continued to persist.

Related: Why She-Hulk’s CGI is Harder to Get Right Than Hulk’s

In a new video, the VFX artists of Corridor Crew defended She-Hulk: Attorney at Law‘s CGI. As they began their analysis of the She-Hulk trailer, the artists pointed out that people expect Marvel Studios’ special effects to be the best, so when the studio’s new work doesn’t top the old, it’s heavily criticized. They continued by firmly stating that She-Hulk’s CGI is not garbage despite any public backlash. They go on to identify some of the reasons viewers might have reacted so negatively to She-Hulk despite the trailer containing some “fantastic” shots. Check out what the Corridor Crew has to say in She-Hulk‘s defense:

Sam Gorski: They are totally wrong. These aren’t garbage VFX.

Clint Jones: Most of the shots in this trailer look fantastic… I think it’s the expectation that Marvel’s at the top and anything less than perfect is unacceptable.

Wren Weichman: I think I’ve kinda identified why there’s an issue. First off, people were reacting to the YouTube trailer which was compressed… that smoothed out all of those details, so you end up with a very sort of rubbery smooth green look. Typically in pop culture, women’s faces are very smooth. Comparing her to say, Bruce Banner, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, there’s so much detail there that we can see that compression just will not be able to remove… And two, we’re just so used to it at this point that it doesn’t trigger our senses the same way that She-Hulk is doing.

According to the Corridor Crew, one of the reasons that She-Hulk won’t look as convincing to viewers as Hulk does is that she is a brand-new character in the MCU. Because Hulk has appeared in many MCU movies over the years, VFX artists already have plenty of digital assets to build off, but with She-Hulk, they are working from scratch. This also means that viewers are already accustomed to seeing the Hulk, so it’s easier to disregard small discrepancies in the CGI. Additionally, women in pop culture typically have smoother skin than men, so She-Hulk doesn’t have the same rough stubble or wrinkles to ground her as the Hulk does.

Despite the criticism, many are still anticipating She-Hulk‘s release. In the comics, She-Hulk is known for her humor and ability to break the Fourth Wall, which could make for a funny series in line with the self-aware Deadpool. There is also speculation that the series will feature surprise cameos like Daredevil‘s Matt Murdock. Considering what the new series may have in store and what the VFX artists have said about its CGI, viewers shouldn’t discount She-Hulk: Attorney at Law just because of some early negative comments.

Next: She-Hulk’s Powers Can Explain Professor Hulk’s “Death”

Source: Corridor Crew

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