Over a hundred years after pictures first began to move, film studios around the world are engaged in a relentless contest to produce ever more mind-boggling effects using the latest developments in computer technology. From the breathtaking Quidditch games in Harry Potter to the towering ape in Peter Jackson's King Kong, not to mention the beautifully detailed computer-generated worlds of Shrek and The Polar Express, there are now no limits to the wonders that can be achieved on screen. Special Effects: The History and Technique offers a lavishly illustrated history of movie magic, covering every major production technique from optical and digital effects, miniature photography and animation, to pyrotechnics, animatronics and even sound effects. Detailed technical explanations of how each effect is achieved are accompanied by specially created illustrations. - Jacket flap.