The latest Marvel film, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, has received negative reviews, with critics citing the subpar and distracting CGI and visual effects as a recurring issue. This is not a new problem for Marvel, as the company has been previously criticized for its poor VFX in other projects like She-Hulk and Thor: Love & Thunder. Anonymous VFX artists and technicians have spoken out about harsh working conditions and unrealistic deadlines, suggesting that Marvel exerts too much control over VFX teams, resulting in poor quality work.
Despite the criticisms, Marvel continues to dominate the box office and attract millions of fans worldwide. However, it’s important to acknowledge the impact that poor working conditions and unrealistic expectations can have on the quality of the final product, as well as the mental and physical health of the artists and technicians working on these projects.
Some industry experts have called for greater transparency and accountability in the VFX industry, with a focus on improving working conditions, offering fair compensation, and providing adequate time and resources to create high-quality work. Additionally, it’s crucial for studios like Marvel to listen to feedback from both critics and audiences and work to address any issues raised, particularly when it comes to the visual effects and CGI that are such a crucial part of these films.
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In a report by Vulture, a new batch of VFX artists have come forward with their experiences working on Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and it’s a very similar story to past projects. They claim that VFX teams were severely understaffed and expected to hit unrealistic deadlines, with higher-ups at Marvel “nitpicking” large portions of the film and asking for changes without taking into account the time needed to do so. They also claim that some worked close to 80 hour weeks and took naps under their desks as they didn’t have enough time to return home between shifts.
However, work on Ant-Man was apparently made even more frustrating due to Marvel’s willingness to reallocate critical resources to other projects. Several of these workers that spoke to Vulture claim that “shortcuts” had to be taken as Marvel would routinely prioritise Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Both films were reportedly in post-production at the same time and worked on by the same VFX house, as the more highly-skilled VFX artists would be taken from Ant-Man and placed on Black Panther.
“In terms of priority, Wakanda Forever was definitely at the top of the list,” explained one worker who preferred to remain anonymous. “All the money went to that. All the best resources went to that. It’s understandable given the context — with Chadwick and everything and how well the first film did. But it did diminish the ability to carry Ant-Man all the way through.”
You’d think that with a company the size of Marvel, money and resources would be no object, but many were afraid to push back for fear of losing their jobs. Marvel clearly has the money, but one worker thinks that executives at the company would rather have them “working until burnout” than be uncomfortable with its bank balance, saying that they think the issue is a matter of “human greed.” From where we’re sat, it’s difficult to see otherwise.