CGI: Computer-generated imagery

First experiments of CGI in film

Nov 21, 1973

First use of 2D computer animation in a significant entertainment feature film. Westworld was the first feature film to use digital image processing.

First use of 3D CGI

Aug 13, 1976

First use of 3D computer graphics for animated hand and face. Used 2D digital compositing to materialize characters over a background.

Star Wars

May 25, 1977

First use of an animated 3D wire-frame graphic for the trench run briefing sequence.

Looker

Oct 30, 1981

First CGI human character, Cindy. First use of shaded 3D CGI as we think of it today.

Tron

Jul 9, 1982

Extensive use (15 min. fully computer generated) of 3D CGI including the famous Light Cycle sequence. Also includes very early facial animation

Luxo Jr.

Aug 17, 1986

First use of shadows in CGI, made with special developed software Renderman. First CGI film to be nominated for an Academy Award.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Jul 3, 1991

First realistic human movements on a CGI character. First use of a personal computer to create major movie 3D effects.

Toy Story

Nov 25, 1995

First CGI feature-length animation.

The Polar Express

Nov 10, 2004

First CGI movie that used motion capture for all actors.

Avatar

Dec 18, 2009

First full length movie made using performance-capture to create photo-realistic 3D characters and to feature a fully CG 3D photo-realistic world.