THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY HOLIDAY SPECIAL VFX Reel Reveals James Gunn's Hidden Role

THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY HOLIDAY SPECIAL VFX Reel Reveals James Gunn's Hidden Role

A newly released VFX reel for The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special offers some insights into how the standalone story was brought to life, including the fact James Gunn doubled for Groot on set!

News
By JoshWilding - Apr 16, 2023 07:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Vol. 3

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special was an absolute delight, and proof Marvel Studios' "Special Presentations" are among the best ideas they've had in this Multiverse Saga era of storytelling. 

With James Gunn gearing up to make the leap to DC Studios as its new co-CEO alongside producer Peter Safran, he won't be returning to the MCU for any further projects after next May's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. As a result, the only Holiday Specials we're likely to get from him are those set in the DCU (The King Shark Holiday Special, perhaps?). 

Last year, there was a lot of confusion over how Groot was brought to life in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, with many left convinced it was actually a practical costume instead of VFX. Gunn soon debunked that, adding that he provided the motion reference for Groot's dancing. 

Now, we can see him in action thanks to a fantastic visual effects reel. While he didn't don a motion-capture costume, Gunn can be seen pulling off some impressive moves on set to act as a reference for the talented team of VFX artists who contributed to the project. 

There are lots of other noteworthy reveals in the video below, and with production on the special taking place at the same time as Vol. 3, it's clear no corners were cut when it came to the Christmastime adventure's visuals. 

"A seasonal showpiece for the amazing Pom Klementieff as Mantis, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is James Gunn’s Marvel masterstroke, and the best Holiday Special ever made," we said in our review of the second Marvel Studios Special Presentation. "A merry Marvel Christmas miracle, it doesn’t get any better than this."

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is now streaming on Disney+.

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vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 4/16/2023, 7:09 AM
I dont care what anyone says. I have enjoyed Gunn's GotG movies and will be there twice opening day. Last remnant of the old MCU.

He will make the DCU successful.
ProfessorWhy
ProfessorWhy - 4/16/2023, 7:29 AM
@vectorsigma - I like Gunn and his movies, for the most part....I have trouble seeing his style fit a proper superman ascetic.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 4/16/2023, 7:39 AM
@ProfessorWhy - sounds fair, even i dont find his current aesthetic fit superman.

But im sure he will start evolving with this. Very challenging but i think he can do it.

It might be similar to when taika jumped from ragnarok to jojo rabbit. Too bad he didnt sustain with thor 4
dragon316
dragon316 - 4/16/2023, 8:22 AM
@vectorsigma - I didn’t like second comedy felt forced jokes where made in hurry maybe third be better
marvel72
marvel72 - 4/16/2023, 1:15 PM
@ProfessorWhy - Watch Brightburn that's basically evil Superman and pretty much the same origin.
marvel72
marvel72 - 4/16/2023, 7:27 AM
Not a fan of the new Groot look,something off about it.

He should go back to how he looked in the first movie.
TyrantBossMedia
TyrantBossMedia - 4/16/2023, 7:41 AM
@marvel72 - I don’t quite understand why he does look so different. Perhaps he hit the gym or was more active in this made by taking part in missions with the GOTG.

If he was destroyed by the power stone then you could always make the argument that the power stone infused his twigs with more energy to make him stronger.

But it comes down to Groot being different from his father.
This Groot was made from trimmings of the original Groot so he will look different like a tree grown from the clippings of another tree end up looking different.

Gunn was asked that on Twitter:

“ Well, YA Groot, or Swoll Groot, as we call him, is getting bigger, outward as well as upward. As you can see by now he has a different, stockier physiology (and a more outgoing personality) than his father did.”

YA Groot = Young Adult Groot
TyrantBossMedia
TyrantBossMedia - 4/16/2023, 7:30 AM
“ THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY HOLIDAY SPECIAL VFX Reel Reveals James Gunn's Hilarious Hidden Role”

That’s opinion. Lose “hilarious”

“ The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special was an absolute delight, and proof Marvel Studios' "Special Presentations" are among the best ideas they've had in this Multiverse Saga era of storytelling.”

That’s all opinion. If you site a source to back it up then you can imply that.


Actually this is a bad opening paragraph because it has nothing to do with the subject of the article.

This from the third paragraph in the article is the better open:

“Last year, there was a lot of confusion over how Groot was brought to life in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. This left many speculating whether Groot was VFX or a person in a costume.”

Now you can take your original opening paragraph and tack it on at the end using something closer to my example.

Example: “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special was well received by fans and critics receiving an 80 and 93 from each respectively on rotten tomatoes.”


“Now, we can see him in action thanks to a fantastic visual effects reel. While he didn't don a motion-capture costume, Gunn can be seen pulling off some impressive moves on set to act as a reference for the talented team of VFX artists who contributed to the project.”

Lose “fantastic” and “impressive”. Those are opinions.

“ There are lots of other noteworthy reveals in the video below, and with production on the special taking place at the same time as Vol. 3, it's clear no corners were cut when it came to the Christmastime adventure's visuals.”

Remove “noteworthy”. And you can’t make the assumption that “no corners were cut” simply because it took place at the same time as they were making GOTG3.

But adding your review quote is the right way to add opinion via citation.


@natebest
TheWalkingCuban
TheWalkingCuban - 4/16/2023, 7:41 AM
I could have done without the corn ball, rock band, of like hey this is what Christmas is supposed to be! And then they play something very Old Navy commercial sounding. Like yeah, that’s pretty much Christmas. Pretty much Disney. If they had any balls, they’d go with a Primus or Green Jelly type of sound
Fogs
Fogs - 4/16/2023, 9:29 AM
@TheWalkingCuban - hahhaa I loved this clip.
EskimoJ
EskimoJ - 4/16/2023, 10:08 AM
@TheWalkingCuban - Damn. I loved that little ditty; might have even topped "Agatha All Along." 😏
TheWalkingCuban
TheWalkingCuban - 4/16/2023, 10:27 AM
@EskimoJ - The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see. hey!
The other side of the mountain was all that he could see, so!
He went back over the mountain to see what he could see.
The other side of the mountain
WAS ALL THAT HE COULD SEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DCfan84
DCfan84 - 4/16/2023, 11:38 AM
@EskimoJ - This Ditty?
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 4/16/2023, 7:54 AM
For some reason I also remember Gunn doing the dancing reference for Groot in the beginning of Vol. 2. I might got that wrong though
ElvenKingSlayer
ElvenKingSlayer - 4/16/2023, 9:42 AM
@bkmeijer1 - Also think he did the dancing in the post credit for Vol. 1. When Groot is in the pot with Drax in the background.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 4/16/2023, 9:53 AM
@ElvenKingSlayer - oh yeah, that might be what I'm thinking of
ElvenKingSlayer
ElvenKingSlayer - 4/16/2023, 9:58 AM
@bkmeijer1 - Baby Groot did some dancing(with legs) in Vol. 2 aswell so your probably right. And yeah I think it was in the intro when they rest of the group fight the monster.
dragon316
dragon316 - 4/16/2023, 8:24 AM
Looks good can’t believe cgi dog most parts of movies dog speaks without using its mouth use real dog
Reginator
Reginator - 4/16/2023, 8:39 AM
I thought the holiday special was just pretty stupid.
Fogs
Fogs - 4/16/2023, 9:29 AM
@Reginator - ahh c'mon Holiday specials are supposed to be lighthearted.

I liked it.
Reginator
Reginator - 4/16/2023, 9:40 AM
@Fogs - the Star Wars holiday special was worse. Gunn seemed to want that title.
ElvenKingSlayer
ElvenKingSlayer - 4/16/2023, 9:43 AM
I thought Mark Hamill played the drunken santa in this?
DocSpock
DocSpock - 4/16/2023, 10:12 AM


I think GotG3 will be good. I liked the holiday special. Sure, it was totally goofy corny, but it's obvious that was what they were going for.

But I am still really afraid of Gunn doing Superman. Be afraid. Be VERY afraid...

Slapstick evil never dies.....
TheShellyMan
TheShellyMan - 4/16/2023, 11:46 AM
I pray Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 is good. If not, the MCU is cooked.



TheLobster
TheLobster - 4/16/2023, 11:49 AM
I liked the Holiday special but that opening with the cringe Christmas song? That shit wasn’t funny and went on for way too long and that’s the problem. The first GOTG is still supreme and I’m gonna bet it’s because he had a co-writer.

Unless I’m astounded, I’m gonna assume Vol. 3 is better than 2 (not too hard aside from the solid Yondu subplot) but not the first.
TheShellyMan
TheShellyMan - 4/16/2023, 11:53 AM
@TheLobster - I hope Vol.3 is more like Vol.1 than Vol.2.
TheLobster
TheLobster - 4/16/2023, 12:28 PM
@TheShellyMan - me too. I can only handle so much juvenile dumb Gunn humor in one film lol
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