Real vs CGI Video

Commenters debate whether a specific video is authentic real-world footage or computer-generated (CGI), often mistaking its high realism for digital effects and comparing it to movie visuals.

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#1606
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Keywords

AI NO CG TV youtube.com CGI INVISIBLE HD wikipedia.org cgi movies movie character looks rendering real realistic video effects

Sample Comments

Splines Oct 16, 2017 View on HN

It's like CGI in movies - when it's done well you don't realize that it's being done at all.

otikik Dec 31, 2023 View on HN

Real images instead of CGI? How dare you?

sidcool Oct 11, 2024 View on HN

That looks like CGI. Pretty good one, but CGI.

WASDx Apr 17, 2024 View on HN

It looks like CGI to me, the way to camera moves together with the depth of field and that things appear too shiny. They don't state anything about it so I don't know what to believe.

jcmoscon Aug 22, 2012 View on HN

Awesome, but it looks like it is CGI.

digitallis42 Dec 23, 2024 View on HN

Several moments look like CGI, particularly with how the dust behaves. It's getting hard to believe video like this.

rlt Apr 2, 2023 View on HN

I still think this looks like CGI https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ODY6JWzS8WU&t=702s

sherdil2022 Jun 8, 2025 View on HN

Reminds me of: “NO CGI" is really just INVISIBLE CGIhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7ttG90raCNo

gjjydfhgd May 10, 2024 View on HN

It's pretty obvious it's real. Cheaper than CGI and better looking.

UnoriginalGuy Jul 2, 2015 View on HN

You mean this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slc--V2pi5cTo me it at least looks as good if not better than many movie's CGI. It has a little bit of "uncanny valley[0]" but not enough if I suspend my disbelief a little.[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unc