Life of Pi, directed by Ang Lee and based on the novel by Yann Martel, won Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature, a category in which it was up against the likes of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Battleship, Prometheus, and The Avengers. Life of Pi also secured wins for simulation and compositing on account of the "Storm of God" sequence, as well as a character animation win based on the stunning work done to bring the Bengal Tiger Richard Parker to the screen.
Since the VES Awards distinguish between effects-driven features and those in which visual effects are a less conspicuous element, there's also an award for Outstanding Supporting Effects, and that one went to Juan Antonio Bayona's The Impossible, with its depiction of a horrifying tsunami and the devastation that follows.
Brave, the latest from Disney and Pixar, won Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture and pretty much swept the animated categories. That's especially impressive given that prognosticators were prognosticating wins for Disney's video game adventure Wreck-It Ralph in that and many of the other animated categories.
Check out the television wins, including quite a bounty for HBO's Game of Thrones, with this breakdown courtesy of Awards Daily (via Collider):
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture
- Life of Pi
Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
- Brave
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Feature Motion Picture
- The Impossible
Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
- Life of Pi: Richard Parker
Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
- Brave: Merida
Outstanding FX and Simulation Animation in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
- Life of Pi: Storm of God
Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
- The Avengers: Midtown Manhattan
Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
- Brave: The Forest
Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture
- Life of Pi: Storm of God
Outstanding Models in a Feature Motion Picture
- The Avengers: Helicarrier
Outstanding FX and Simulation Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
- Brave
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program
- Game of Thrones: Volar Morghulis
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program
- Boardwalk Empire: Episode 308
Outstanding Real-Time Visuals in a Video Game
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial
- Nike: Biomorph
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project
- Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
Outstanding Animated Character in a Commercial or Broadcast Program
- Game of Thrones: Training the Dragons
Outstanding Created Environment in a Commercial or Broadcast Program
- Game of Thrones: Pyke
Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Commercial or Broadcast Program
- ZombiU
Outstanding FX and Simulation Animation in a Commercial or Broadcast Program
- Guinness: Cloud
Outstanding Compositing in a Broadcast Program
- Game of Thrones, Episode 210: White Walker Army
Outstanding Compositing in a Commercial
- Chevy 2012 Silverado
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project
- Natalis
