Timeline of CGI in movies - Definition and Overview

Pioneering uses of computer-generated imagery in film and television:

Film	Year	Notes	Sample image
Westworld	1973	First use of 2D computer digitized images as part of a feature film (infrared point of view of Gunslinger robot in Westworld).
Futureworld	1976	First use of 3D computer graphics for animated hand and face. Used 2D digital compositing to materialize characters over a background.
Star Wars	1977	First use of 3D vector graphics for the trench run briefing sequence.	StarWarsBriefing.jpg
Superman	1978	First CGI film titles.	Superman-title.jpg
Alien	1979	Used raster wireframe rendering for navigation monitors in the landing sequence.
The Black Hole	1979	Disney uses CGI for the opening titles.
Looker	1981	First CGI human character, Cindy. First use of shaded 3D CGI as we think of it today.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan	1982	ILM computer graphics division develops "Genesis effect".
Tron	1982	Extensive use of 3D CGI including the famous Light Cycle sequence.
2010: The Year We Make Contact	1984	CGI was used to create thousands of monoliths for the end sequence.
The Last Starfighter	1984	Uses CGI for all spaceship shots, replacing traditional models. First use of 'integrated CGI' where the effects are supposed to represent real world objects.
The Adventures of Andre and Wally B	1984	Lucasfilm's computer animation division creates an all-CGI animated short. The first CGI animation with motion blur effects.
Lensman (SF Shinseiki Lensman)	1984	First anime to use CGI.
Young Sherlock Holmes	1985	Lucasfilm creates the first photorealistic CGI character, 'stained glass knight'.
The Great Mouse Detective	1986	First major use of computer animation in an animated film, the depiction of Big Ben's gears.
Luxo Jr	1986	Pixar's first fully 3D animated short film. First use of shadows in CGI. First CGI film to be nominated for an Academy award.
Max Headroom	1987	Computer-mediated live action figure.
Willow	1988	Uses morphing in a feature film.
The Abyss	1989	First 3D digital water effect.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade	1989	First all-digital composite.	Indiana_aging.jpg
Total Recall	1990	Use of motion capture for CGI characters. (More information is needed.)
Die Hard 2: Die Harder	1990	First digitally-manipulated matte painting.
Terminator 2	1991	First realistic human movements on a CG character.
Lawnmower Man	1992
Death Becomes Her	1992	First human skin CG software.
Jurassic Park	1993	First photorealistic CG characters.
Babylon 5	1993	First television series to use CGI as the primary method for its visual effects. First TV use of virtual sets.
The Flintstones	1994	First digital fur.
ReBoot	1994	First computer animated television series.	ReBoot_TV_series.jpg
Waterworld	1995	First realistic CG water.
Toy Story	1995	First CGI feature-length animation.
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace	1999	First CGI character ever to interact realistically with live actors.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within	2001	First realistic feature-length CGI movie.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (movie)	2002	First use of AI for digital actors (using the Massive software developed by Weta Workshop).
The Matrix Reloaded	2003	The Burly Brawl - the first use of Universal Capture, 3D recording of actor's performance, its editing and rendering.	Matrix_Reloaded_Burly_Brawl.jpg
The Matrix Revolutions	2003	Superpunch - the first realistic close-up of detailed facial deformation on a synthetic human.
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow	2004	First movie with all-CGI backgrounds and live actors.
The Polar Express	2004	First CGI movie that used performance capture for all actors.	Polar_express_1.jpg

External links

• CG production companies (http://accad.osu.edu/~waynec/history/lesson11.html) and CGI in the movies (http://accad.osu.edu/~waynec/history/lesson14.html) - detailed historical information