How Oscar-Nominated VFX Teams Created Alien Animatronics, Wicked Worlds and More

variety.com:

Carolyn Giardina Without a juggernaut like “Avatar,” this year’s visual effects Oscar race is proving a competitive one, with VFX branch members nominating the stellar work in “Alien: Romulus,” “Better Man,” “Dune: Part 2,” “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” and “Wicked.” “Alien: Romulus” brings history to the race, as 1979’s “Alien” and 1986’s “Aliens” won VFX Oscars.

To stay consistent with the classic feel of the franchise but take advantage of VFX advancements (while involving noted “Alien” vets in the production, as well as the work of companies such as ILM and Weta FX), the latest movie in the franchise features 1,400 “analog” and digital VFX shots to create its sci-fi world and inhabitants.

The frightening Xenomorphs, for instance, were brought to life with methods from animatronics and puppets to the use of fully digital characters. “Practicals were used as much as possible with the actors to get the performance,” relates VFX supervisor Eric Barba.

Work also ranged from the Renaissance Space Station to the likeness of late actor Ian Holmes, who appeared in the original film. “Better Man” stars a Weta FX-created photoreal CG chimp as singer-songwriter Robbie Williams in the otherwise live-action biopic.