Production Team of 'The Legend of Gods 2' Denies Outsourcing Visual Effects for 4,500 Yuan
The release of "封神2" (The Legend of Gods 2) has sparked controversy over its visual effects, particularly the depiction of 殷郊法相 (Yin Jiao Fa Xiang). The film's production team, 魅思映像 (Mei Si Ying Xiang), has denied rumors that the visual effects for Yin Jiao Fa Xiang were outsourced to a company for a mere 4,500 yuan. According to the team's official statement, the visual effects for the film were created by 10 domestic and international companies, including Scanline VFX, TIPPETT, and DIGITAL DOMAIN. The team claimed that the creation of Yin Jiao Fa Xiang's visual effects involved a complex process, including concept design, digital asset development, dynamic testing, volume capture, and rendering, which took over 18 months to complete.
10 February 2025
The controversy surrounding the film's visual effects has been fueled by online discussions, with some viewers expressing disappointment and frustration with the quality of the effects. The film's director, 乌尔善 (Wu Er Shan), has responded to the criticism, explaining that the visual effects were intended to convey the complexity and tragedy of Yin Jiao's character. Many netizens have taken to social media to express their disappointment and frustration with the film's visual effects, with some joking that the effect was "outsourced to a company for 4500 yuan." Some have even compared the three-headed, six-armed Yin Jiao Fa Xiang to the "Blue Elves" from a popular cartoon.
The production company has since released a statement denying the rumors that the effect was outsourced for 4500 yuan, instead claiming that the effect was created by Scanline VFX, a renowned visual effects company that has worked on blockbuster films such as "2012," "Game of Thrones," and "The Hobbit." Despite the company's denial, netizens continue to express their disappointment and skepticism about the film's special effects. The debate highlights the growing expectations of Chinese audiences for high-quality visual effects in domestic films, and the challenges that production companies face in meeting these expectations.
The issue at hand is not merely the outsourcing of visual effects, but the alleged quality of the work produced. If the effect in question was indeed created for such a low price, it is likely that many in the audience would have accepted it as a cost-effective solution. However, the production team's denial of outsourcing, which implies that the effect was created in-house by a professional company, has raised more pressing concerns. The perceived quality of the visual effect has led to questions about the allocation of funds and the possibility of financial impropriety. The public's suspicion that this could be a case of money laundering or embezzlement, rather than a genuine attempt at creating high-quality visual effects, underscores the need for transparency and accountability in the production of such high-profile projects.
The controversy has significant implications for the film industry, as it highlights the importance of accuracy and transparency in reporting on production processes and costs. The initial rumors not only undermined the credibility of the film's producers but also raised concerns about the potential for similar misinformation to spread in the future. By setting the record straight, the production company has helped to restore trust and demonstrate the value and effort that goes into creating high-quality visual effects in film production. Despite the controversy, the film has performed well at the box office, grossing over 5.93 billion yuan in its first two days of release. However, the debate over the film's visual effects continues to simmer, with some viewers calling for greater transparency and accountability from the production team.
