The next wave of movies will push the virtual envelope even further. None represents the breathtaking visual delights of “Jurassic.” But in “Jumanji,” opening before Christmas, all of the jungle animals are computer inventions. The lion has a mane that digital artisans worked for years to create. Human faces will always be the elusive grail, given their complexity. But hair presents a special challenge. It’s very fine, it defies the order computers like and it’s impossible to light. “You don’t want the hair to look like plastic dread locks on a Barbie,” says Carl Frederick of Marin County’s Industrial Light & Magic, who served as digital coiffeur.
ILM is also working on tests for several films due out next year, which NEWSWEEK got an exclusive look at. “Twister” will star a synthetic tornado that would bring tears to Dorothy’s and Toto’s eyes. “Dragonheart” will feature a lifelike reptile that has the voice of Sean Connery (and presumably his persona, too). The beast, named Draco, gets as much screen time as costar Dennis Quaid–and better lines. “It’s the most complicated, intricate thing we’ve ever built,” says Judith Weaver, a “Dragonheart” producer. “At one point, when we were loading all the data into the computer, we thought it would come to a screeching halt.” Sometime next year, work will begin on the sequel to “Jurassic” and the new “Star Wars” trilogy. Given what audiences have come to expect, they’d better come up with something spectacular. Old dinosaurs and Edsel spaceships just won’t do anymore.
