The fantastic special effects used in Game of Thrones.

In just under four minutes, VFX studio Pixomondo has highlighted – with gusto – the best special effects from HBO’s second season of Game of Thrones. The reel, which Pixomondo has now made available to fans, is exceptionally impressive, not only because of the quality of the work shown but, frankly, in the actual production of the clip itself.

One of the most impressive elements of the season were Dany’s dragons, and seeing how they were layered up from bone to flesh and movement just goes to prove the lengths the VFX team went to to make them as visceral as possible for their scenes. 

To view the clip which also features key scenes like the Battle of Blackwater Bay as well as that rather memorable closing scene of the season, hit the jump.

Though many might be surprised at the extent to which Pyke, Harrenhal and some of the other castles and locations were digitally rendered, even more interesting is perhaps how much of it is not.  Many of the sets are incredibly impressive in their own right, with the green screens or layering (technology that we also use at our workshops) in post helping just to enhance the grandeur of scale. 

That is particularly true with the White Walkers, many of whom were actors with zombie-esque make up on as a base layer that was digitally enhanced to exceptionally creepy levels of decay.

The special effects do not fail to amaze when it comes to the direwolfs as well.

            In Season 1, the production team used adult dogs to stand in for the juvenile direwolf puppies. Northern Inuit Dogs from Mahlek Kennels were used.

             In interviews they have stated that this was done to allow the audience to grow attached to them, which would have been more difficult had the dogs been created by special effects. As the direwolves continue to grow, however, more special effects are going to be used.

           

            When Season 1 wrapped up, the dogs used as direwolves were offered to the young actors who played their owners in the show. Sophie Turner (Sansa) took the dog that played Lady. Sophie Turner (Sansa) wanted to take Summer, but his family already had two dogs at home.

In Season 2, real wolves were used to portray the adolescent direwolves. Using a variety of camera tricks and techniques, the shots were augmented to make the wolves appear larger, and then composited with the background and actors for the final shots. The result is that in Season 2 the direwolves are played by real-life wolves that have been super-sized in post-production.

IF WANT YOUR CHILD TO LEARN MORE ABOUT 'GREEN SCREEN' SPECIAL EFFECTS AND MAKE HIS OWN SHORT FILM OR TVNEWS BROADCAST USING PROFESSIONAL CAMERAS AND SOFTWARE BRING HIM TO OUR 'GREEN SCREEN' WORKSHOP FROM 23RD OF AUGUST 2013. A FUN AND ACTIVE WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN THAT PUTS YOU IN THE HEART OF THE ACTION!! (AGE +7)

You can book online through our website (www.signals.org.uk booking fee applies) or you can save the booking fee and call Signals direct on 01206 560255.