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Decade 14 / 21

1950s

14 effects · The decade marks introduction, breakthrough or wide use

  • 124

    Stereoscopic 3D Cinema

    1952–1954: first major Hollywood 3D boom.

  • 125

    Anamorphic Widescreen

    From 1953 onwards: Hollywood's widescreen wave.

  • 126

    Dolly Zoom

    1958: Dramatization of vertigo. Later a frequent device for shock and realization.

  • 127

    Forced Perspective

    1959: prominent cinema example, significantly older illusion trick

  • 128

    Whip Pan

    1950s example; recurring in comedy and action films

  • 129

    Oscilloscope Art

    Ben Laposky's Oscillons, circa 1952.

  • 130

    NTSC Composite Artifacts

    NTSC color television since the 1950s; later retro simulation.

  • 131

    Chemigram

    1956, Pierre Cordier's chemical paintings

  • 132

    Cinerama

    1952, Fred Waller's widescreen process

  • 133

    Kinetic Typography

    1959, Saul Bass's title sequence for North by Northwest

  • 134

    Freeze Frame

    1959, ending of The 400 Blows

  • 135

    Pixilation

    1950s landmark: Norman McLaren’s Neighbours, 1952; earlier examples exist

  • 136

    Dynamation

    1950s, Ray Harryhausen; demonstrated in 20 Million Miles to Earth, 1957.

  • 137

    Limited Animation

    1950s, especially UPA's stylised theatrical cartoons

← 1940s
1960s →
LETZ.AI

504 effects — 321 historical, 183 machine. Dates mark introduction, breakthrough or wide use, not always invention.

The History of Visual Effects · 1820–2026

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