Visual Effects Society Awards, VES Awards 2025, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes VFX, Dune Part Two visual effects, The Wild Robot animation, Shōgun TV series VFX, VES, Awards, VFX, AnimationPreheader: The 23rd Annual VES Awards honor top visual effects in film, television, and animation, with notable wins for ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,’ ‘Dune: Part Two,’ and ‘The Wild Robot.’

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Swings to Victory

In a move that surprised absolutely no one, ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ clinched the award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature. The film’s exceptional digital characters and environments left the competition in the dust, showcasing the pinnacle of VFX artistry.

Dune: Part Two Sands Up Multiple Awards

Not to be outdone, ‘Dune: Part Two’ swept through several categories, demonstrating its mastery of visual storytelling. The film dominated in areas such as CG Cinematography, Effects Simulations, and Compositing & Lighting, proving that spice isn’t the only thing it controls.

The Wild Robot Animates Success

In the animation realm, ‘The Wild Robot’ made a significant impact, securing awards for Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature, Character Animation, Effects Simulations, and Environment. Its innovative approach and technical prowess set a new standard for animated storytelling.

Shōgun Commands the Episodic Arena

The episodic category saw ‘Shōgun’ making waves, earning accolades for Outstanding Visual Effects in an Episode, Environments, and Effects Simulations. The series’ commitment to visual excellence and immersive environments captivated audiences and critics alike.

The Penguin Marches to Recognition

‘The Penguin’ solidified its reputation as a visually striking series, receiving praise for its compositing and practical effects. The show’s meticulous attention to detail and seamless integration of visual elements garnered well-deserved acclaim.

And here is the full list of all 25 Categories

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

• Erik Winquist
• Julia Neighly
• Paul Story
• Danielle Immerman
• Rodney Burke

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature Civil War

• David Simpson
• Michelle Rose
• Freddy Salazar
• Chris Zeh
• J.D. Schwalm

Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature The Wild Robot

• Chris Sanders
• Jeff Hermann
• Jeff Budsberg
• Jakob Hjort Jensen

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode Shōgun; Anjin

• Michael Cliett
• Melody Mead
• Philip Engström
• Ed Bruce
• Cameron Waldbauer

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode The Penguin; Bliss

• Johnny Han
• Michelle Rose
• Goran Pavles
• Ed Bruce
• Devin Maggio

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Real-Time Project Star Wars Outlaws

• Stephen Hawes
• Lionel Le Dain
• Benedikt Podlesnigg
• Andi-Bogdan Draghici

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial Coca-Cola; The Heroes

• Greg McKneally
• Antonia Vlasto
• Ryan Knowles
• Fabrice Fiteni

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project D23; Real-Time Rocket

• Evan Goldberg
• Alyssa Finley
• Jason Breneman
• Alice Taylor

Outstanding Character in a Photoreal Feature Better Man; Robbie Williams

• Milton Ramirez
• Andrea Merlo
• Seoungseok Charlie Kim
• Eteuati Tema

Outstanding Character in an Animated Feature The Wild Robot; Roz

• Fabio Lignini
• Yukinori Inagaki
• Owen Demers
• Hyun Huh

Outstanding Character in an Episode, Commercial, Game Cinematic, or Real-Time Project Ronja the Robber’s Daughter; Vildvittran the Queen Harpy

• Nicklas Andersson
• David Allan
• Gustav Åhren
• Niklas Wallén

Outstanding Environment in a Photoreal Feature Dune: Part Two; The Arrakeen Basin

• Daniel Rhein
• Daniel Anton Fernandez
• Marc James Austin
• Christopher Anciaume

Outstanding Environment in an Animated Feature The Wild Robot; The Forest

• John Wake
• He Jung Park
• Woojin Choi
• Shane Glading

Outstanding Environment in an Episode, Commercial, Game Cinematic, or Real-Time Project Shōgun; Osaka

• Manuel Martinez
• Phil Hannigan
• Keith Malone
• Francesco Corvino

Outstanding CG Cinematography Dune: Part Two; Arrakis

• Greig Fraser
• Xin Steve Guo
• Sandra Murta
• Ben Wiggs

Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project Alien: Romulus; Renaissance Space Station

• Waldemar Bartkowiak
• Trevor Wide
• Matt Middleton
• Ben Shearman

Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal Feature Dune: Part Two; Atomic Explosions and Wormriding

• Nicholas Papworth
• Sandy la Tourelle
• Lisa Nolan
• Christopher Phillips

Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature The Wild Robot

• Derek Cheung
• Michael Losure
• David Chow
• Nyoung Kim

Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Episode, Commercial, Game Cinematic, or Real-Time Project Shōgun; Broken to the Fist; Landslide

• Dominic Tiedeken
• Heinrich Löwe
• Charles Guerton
• Timmy Lundin

Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in a Feature Dune: Part Two; Wormriding, Geidi Prime, and the Final Battle

• Christopher Rickard
• Francesco Dell’Anna
• Paul Chapman
• Ryan Wing

Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in an Episode The Penguin; After Hours

• Jonas Stuckenbrock
• Karen Cheng
• Eugene Bondar
• Miky Girón

Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in a Commercial Coca-Cola; The Heroes

• Ryan Knowles
• Alex Gabucci
• Jack Powell
• Dan Yargici

Outstanding Special (Practical) Effects in a Photoreal Project The Penguin; Safe Guns

• Devin Maggio
• Johnny Han
• Cory Candrilli
• Alexandre Prod’homme

Emerging Technology Award Here; Neural Performance Toolset

• Jo Plaete
• Oriel Frigo
• Tomas Koutsky
• Matteo Olivieri-Dancey

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project Pittura (entry from ARTFX – Schools of Digital Arts, France)

Helloïs Marre

Adam Lauriol

Titouan Lassère

Rémi Vivenza

The post VES Awards 2025: Apes Ascend, Dune Dazzles, Robots Rule first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Günter Hagedorn.