VFX Artists Blown Away By Childhood Favorite Movie You Forgot

VFX artists have been blown away by the quality of the effects seen in the 1995 fantasy film The Indian in the Cupboard. The film follows a young boy named Omri who discovers that toys he puts in his cupboard come to life, including a Native American figurine named Little Bear. The film uses many detailed VFX in order to bring the movie to life.

Now, VFX artists featured on Corridor Crew have reacted to the VFX of The Indian in the Cupboard, praising them for their level of detail.

The section of the video about the film starts at 13:39, with the artists floored by the level of quality in a shot where Little Bear jumps into Omri’s hand. Throughout this segment of the video, they continue to analyze how the film was made to make it looks like toys had come to life in the cupboard, impressed by how it was done.

Does The Indian In The Cupboard Hold Up Today?

While The Indian in the Cupboard may not have VFX as remembered as something like Gollum from The Lord of the Rings, the movie’s use of complex VFX is still impressive for the time. Much of the film required Little Bear actor Litefoot to look like he was the size of a toy, requiring motion control rigs and visual overlays. This dedication to VFX allowed him to look like he was truly a toy that had come to life.

The Indian in the Cupboard was critically praised when it first came out, but audiences didn’t feel the same way. The premise of the film could be seen as strange since it focuses on toys coming to life in a cupboard and a young boy’s friendship with a Native American toy. However, the film’s themes surrounding belonging and responsibility may also still resonate today in spite of the film’s odd story.

What The Indian in the Cupboard did with its VFX could be considered a precursor to CGI-heavy films like Marvel movies, making the film ahead of its time in terms of detail. However, the positive critical reception and negative audience reception at the time mean the movie isn’t for everyone. Even so, it’s undeniable that The Indian in the Cupboard had impressive VFX for its time.

Source: Corridor Crew/YouTube