AVATAR 3D Effects: How AVATAR Has Changed the Way People View 3D Movies

James Cameron has revolutionized movies forever. Find out how AVATAR 3D is different from a regular movie thanks to creative 3D technology and advanced animation that leaves viewers amazed.

Guest post by Ashley Hansen

When AVATAR was released it became an instant hit and quickly became the number one movie in film history. It’s no surprise that this ambitious 3D film was so popular, but how is AVATAR 3D different from a regular movie? There are many other great films out, even other advanced 3D films. Find out what made AVATAR different, and how will it affect the way we see movies from now on.

A New 3D Look

The biggest difference between the AVATAR and past 3D movies is that a whole new technology was developed just for this film. James Cameron had actually already waited more than 15 years to make AVATAR simply because the technology he wanted wasn’t available yet. He ended up creating his own technology, a new system of stereoscopic cameras that have revolutionized 3D film. This technology involves two side-by-side cameras filming simultaneously, mimicking the experience we have of perceiving an image with our two eyes. The camera system makes a more realistic 3D effect that viewers have found to be simply amazing, which is how AVATAR 3D is different from regular movies.

An Immersive, Realistic Experience

This new technology doesn’t rely on cheesy effects like random objects appearing to fly off the screen and come at the audience. Instead, it creates a more realistic depth perception throughout the film that makes it possible for viewers to feel immersed in the images, as though they are really there. The camera pans more often to create a realistic view. It’s almost as if the viewer is turning his or her head to see the image like they would in real life. This is another main difference in how AVATAR 3D is different from regular movies; in past 3D films, audiences usually looked at a static scene and the 3D effect came out towards them in an effort to thrill or scare them, rather than mimicking their natural eye movements.

Realistic Animation

With many animated films hitting movie screens all over the world, AVATAR was the first to introduce a new way of animating characters in order to retain their realistic and relatable appeal. Viewers get close up looks at characters in the movie, and their expressions, movements and gestures seem eerily real. That’s because Cameron combined the 3D technology he invented with live action of the actors, who were hooked up to computer sensors to catch their every movement. The result is onscreen characters that mimic the actors' exact movements on the screen combined with the 3D technology which made it feel as though audiences were right there with them in the film. AVATAR has changed the way we see 3D films so that not only do the scenes appear realistic, but so do animated characters.

The 3D Experience of the Future

Going forward, viewers can expect an increased focus on the quality of 3D movies. As new films enter production, they’ll have to compete with the high standard that AVATAR has set in the 3D film industry. Whether live-action or animated, any 3D film created in the coming years will likely have better quality and more realistic effects. Also, Cameron’s new 3D technology will allow more filmmakers to work with better camera systems to create a more natural-looking 3D experience. AVATAR has changed the face of 3D films forever, and it’s only a matter of time before we’ll begin to see the effects.

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What was your favorite thing about seeing AVATAR in 3D?