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LAST MONTH, VISUAL effects (VFX) company Rhythm & Hues filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The studio helped bring a ravenous Bengal tiger to the big screen in Oscar-winning movie Life of Pi.

However, after more than 200 layoffs, some 400 VFX artists protested during the 85th Academy Awards.

The recent bankruptcy filing of Rhythm & Hues is the latest blow to the VFX community which has taken a hard hit in the past year.

Last September, VFX studio Digital Domain Media Group also filed for bankruptcy before being bought in part by Galloping Horse and Reliance Capital.

Now, some VFX artists have suggested a walk out later this week on 3/14 (“Pi” day) to show support for creating a union.

If it weren’t for visual and special effects crews, a lot of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters would be unwatchable.

From Life of Pi to The Dark Knight Rises, we’ve gathered together images from visual effects studios Industrial Light & Magic and Rhythm & Hues and visual effects software company Imagineer Systems to show what popular movies would look like without added effects.

This is what movies would look like without visual effects

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Visual effects crew Rhythm & Hues changed Life of Pi from this...
pic by FXRant
...to this
Pirate gang in Pirates of the Carribbean is computer generated...
via Youtube screengrab
...as the actors don't wear costumes as make-up
via Youtube screengrab
The bridge scenes in Final Destination 5...
via Youtube screengrab
...don't look nearly as scary with green screen
via Youtube screengrab
Without motion tracking and visual effects in Black Swan...
pic: Imagineer Systems
...Natalie Portman would be a featherless ballerina
via Youtube screengrab
Without visual effects in Alice in Wonderland...
via Youtube screengrab
...Lewis Carroll's world would look pretty wonderless
via Youtube screengrab
The Hunger Games 3D touchscreens...
via Youtube screengrab
...lose all control in green screen
via Youtube screengrab
Spidey appeared on a web of wires in The Amazing Spider-Man...
pic: Imagineer Systems
...which were really the result of motion tracking
pic: Imagineer Systems
Mark Ruffalo wore a capture suit while filming The Avengers...
via Youtube screengrab
...the visual effects team translated his actions into a 3D rendering...
...and this was the end result
There weren't really 80,000 people in this stadium in The Dark Knight Rises...
via Warner Bros./The Dark Knight Rises Blu-Ray
...there were small groups who were filmed and spread through the stadium to make it seem full
via Warner Bros./The Dark Knight Rises Blu-Ray
As for the blown-up field, director Christopher Nolan and his crew couldn't actually destroy it...
via Warner Bros./The Dark Knight Rises Blu-Ray
...so it actually looked like this
via Warner Bros./The Dark Knight Rises Blu-Ray
Bonus reveal: The art department built a raised section with a few holes in it for stuntmen to drop into
via Warner Bros./The Dark Knight Rises Blu-Ray

- Kirsten Acuna

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This is what movies would look like without visual effects

Visual effects crew Rhythm & Hues changed Life of Pi from this...

...to this

Pirate gang in Pirates of the Carribbean is computer generated...

...as the actors don't wear costumes as make-up

The bridge scenes in Final Destination 5...

...don't look nearly as scary with green screen

Without motion tracking and visual effects in Black Swan...

...Natalie Portman would be a featherless ballerina

Without visual effects in Alice in Wonderland...

...Lewis Carroll's world would look pretty wonderless

The Hunger Games 3D touchscreens...

...lose all control in green screen

Spidey appeared on a web of wires in The Amazing Spider-Man...

...which were really the result of motion tracking

Mark Ruffalo wore a capture suit while filming The Avengers...

...the visual effects team translated his actions into a 3D rendering...

...and this was the end result

There weren't really 80,000 people in this stadium in The Dark Knight Rises...

...there were small groups who were filmed and spread through the stadium to make it seem full

As for the blown-up field, director Christopher Nolan and his crew couldn't actually destroy it...

...so it actually looked like this

Bonus reveal: The art department built a raised section with a few holes in it for stuntmen to drop into

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.