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New Zealand visual effects company Wētā FX has landed two Emmy Award nominations for its contributions to two high production value television shows.
The Wellington-based company’s special effects for the second seasons of The Last of Us and House of the Dragon were recognised in the Outstanding Special Visual Effectscategory.
“Having our work recognised by our peers and the global entertainment community is something we deeply appreciate,” Matt Aitken, Wētā FX’s head of visual effects (VFX), said in a statement.
“The nominations are testament to the outstanding quality of work contributed by everyone at Wētā FX and we couldn’t be prouder to be adding to the rich history of these iconic series.”
The House of the Dragon team’s VFX supervisor Wayne Stables said he was “honoured” to be recognised with VFX producer Marcus Goodwin on their team’s behalf.
Wētā FX has been nominated for its work on the second season of House of the Dragon. Photo / Theo Whiteman, HBO
“It’s a proud moment when we can share everyone’s creativity and talent with fans around the world, and even more so when that work is celebrated in such prestigious company.”
Wētā FX said it was mainly involved in creating the dragons Seasmoke and Vermithor, as well as digitally designing the castle setting of Harrenhal and the interior of Dragonmont cave.
Meanwhile, another of Wētā FX’s teams was acknowledged for their work on The Last of Us.
VFX supervisor Nick Epstein and animation supervisor Dennis Yoo extended their gratitude to all those involved in the post-apocalyptic series’ second season.
The bulk of Wētā FX’s work focused on the second episode of The Last of Us season two, where countless “infected” dug their way out of the snow to attack the guarded alpine township of Jackson, Wyoming.
“We couldn’t be prouder of our work on this uniquely challenging show and are ecstatic that the team has been recognised with this nomination,” Epstein and Yoo said.
Wētā FX's work on The Last of Us mainly centred around season two's second episode. Photo / Liane Hentscher, HBO
“Congratulations and thank you to everyone who worked on the series, including our friends at HBO.”
The Television Academy announced its full list of nominations for this year’s 77th Emmy Awards this morning (NZT).
The company won Outstanding Special Visual Effects for the first season of The Last of Us in 2023 and swept up the same award in both 2018 and 2019 for its work on Game of Thrones’ seventh and eighth seasons.
This year’s awards ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on September 14.
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