The 24th Annual Visual Effects Society (VES) Awards honored the year’s most groundbreaking achievements in visual artistry, with Avatar: Fire and Ash and KPop Demon Hunters emerging as the biggest winners.
Avatar Sweeps Photoreal Feature Categories
Avatar: Fire and Ash led the night with seven wins out of 10 nominations, including Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature, Outstanding Character in a Photoreal Feature for Varang (played by Oona Chaplin), and Outstanding CG Cinematography. The film also earned the Emerging Technology Award for the Kora Fire Toolset.
Visual effects supervisor Eric Saindon of Weta FX explained the difficulty of simulating fire realistically, noting that “every time you look at a fire, it could dance a little differently depending on the environment.” With over 3,000 VFX shots, the film pushed the limits of digital realism.
KPop Demon Hunters Triumphs in Animation
KPop Demon Hunters secured three awards, including Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature and Outstanding Character in an Animated Feature for Rumi. Its vibrant style and technical innovation earned praise as one of the standout animated projects of the year.
Other Highlights
- Zootopia 2 won Outstanding Environment in an Animated Feature for its Marsh Market biome.
- Sinners earned Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature.
- In television, Andor and Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age each won two awards, showcasing the growing sophistication of episodic VFX.
Honoring Industry Legends
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer received the VES Lifetime Achievement Award, while Wētā Workshop co-founder Sir Richard Taylor was honored with the VES Visionary Award. Bruckheimer praised VFX professionals, saying, “You create the magic. You create the things that people go to theaters for.”
A Celebration of Innovation
VES Board Chair Kim Davidson emphasized that the winners represent “best-in-class work from around the world.” Hosted by comedy duo Randy and Jason Sklar, the ceremony took place on February 25 at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.
With Avatar: Fire and Ash and KPop Demon Hunters leading the charge, the 2026 VES Awards highlighted how technology and creativity continue to redefine cinematic storytelling.
