Invasion Season 2: Mind-Blowing Surprises Await, Reveals VFX Supervisor Erik Henry

Summary

Invasion season 2 of Apple TV+ brings a new level of scale and visual effects to the storyline of alien invasion.

Erik Henry, the VFX supervisor, worked closely with show creator Simon Kinberg to meticulously craft a captivating and intelligently conceived alien world and universe.

Designing visual effects for a TV series presents the unique challenge of continuously expanding and delving into the alien characters' evolution and exploration throughout multiple episodes in Invasion.

Alien invasions have been a recurring theme in numerous science fiction movies and TV shows, and Apple TV+'s Invasion takes a fresh approach to this premise. Having garnered critical acclaim upon its debut in 2021, Invasion's second season has maintained its impressive momentum. This is largely attributed to the exceptional visual effects, as acknowledged by artist and supervisor Erik Henry.

Invasion presents a diverse range of aliens and spacecraft, with the second season taking the scale of both to new heights. Erik Henry and the VFX team of Invasion dedicate meticulous attention to bringing the alien invaders to life within the show's expansive narrative, which follows various human characters and their encounters with these extraterrestrial beings.

Erik Henry Talks Invasion Season 2

Screen Rant: How did you get involved in season 2 of Invasion? Were you part of season 1?

Erik Henry: Yes, Simon Kinberg, the show's creator, asked me to join because he was good friends with someone I had previously worked with. He mentioned that they recommended me for this type of work, which is interesting because I hadn't been involved in space or science fiction shows for a while. I had been primarily focused on reality-based shows, but I have experience in this genre, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to return to it.

Simon empowered me to be creative and collaborative in both season 1 and season 2. His unique personality and impressive track record gave me a great deal of responsibility. I embraced this opportunity and developed the concept of the alien world and universe, ensuring that everything made logical sense. I crave shows that immerse me in their universe, where thought has been put into the aliens, their spaceships, and how they arrived on Earth, as well as their capabilities. It's like constructing a cohesive ecosystem. Science fiction, in particular, holds significant importance in this regard. My hope is that viewers appreciate the thoughtfulness and intelligence behind the show, whether they're tuned into season one or the alien intensity of season two. Simon and I both prioritize this aspect greatly.

Erik Henry reflects on his early and ongoing career primarily focused on feature films. However, he acknowledges that working on a long-form narrative with multiple episodes offers the unique opportunity to develop and expand on ideas. For instance, in season 2, the challenge was to convey the emotions of an alien lifeform that lacks traditional means of expression, such as eyes and a mouth. They tackled this challenge by exploring various visual elements like changing its shape, color, and texture to evoke emotions like pain, happiness, and intimacy. This process was made possible by the presence of multiple episodes, allowing for gradual exploration rather than immediate resolution.

Compared to films, where scenes provide opportunities for development, lengthier formats like television shows afford even greater exploration of different aspects. In the case of this show, viewers witness the gradual evolution of the alien character and gain an understanding of its motivations over time. Erik believes that watching television shows capable of executing this narrative style effectively is a rewarding experience, and he believes this show accomplishes that. The payoff is significant for those who commit to staying engaged with the show.

What were some of your favorite aspects of the show’s visual effects to design?

Erik Henry: Without a doubt, that has to be the biggest challenge for the reasons I mentioned. It becomes difficult to convey emotions when a character lacks facial features and dialogue. Another challenge that was particularly rewarding was the introduction of a single alien in season 1. Its purpose was not solely to kill people, but rather for terraforming. In season 2, Simon decided to up the ante and create a warrior class alien. However, I strongly believe in maintaining consistency throughout a show's ecosystem. I don't like it when filmmaking deviates from this principle. So, the challenge with the warrior class alien was to ensure it felt part of the same world, despite its lack of mouth and drone-like characteristics. It had to become more aggressive, faster, and possess the ability to maneuver like a pack of wolves, which we know works effectively.

We definitely addressed these aspects. Some may wonder how an alien lifeform can behave like a pack of wolves on our planet. To them, I would emphasize the importance of adapting to the environment one arrives in. Due to factors like gravity or atmosphere, organisms develop and evolve differently. This happened on Earth, and it happened more rapidly with the alien. The new life form you'll see in season 2 has appendages that are lethal and specifically designed to kill humans. The pack mentality we incorporated aligns with Simon's concept of communication through a hive mind, making it all the more plausible.

So, we have two highly challenging extraterrestrial beings featured in the show, and in my opinion, that aspect of the work is the most fulfilling. However, we also have some remarkable sequences showcasing spacecrafts and captivating environments, such as the Amazon rainforest and the vast skies. The visuals depicting these elements are truly impressive, thanks to the exceptional contributions of various visual effects companies involved in production. I am deeply indebted to all of them.

Given the opportunity to work on Invasion season 3, what would be your top priority in terms of designing or introducing new elements to the show?

Erik Henry: Well, I can’t disclose any details at the moment, but we are currently in discussions with Simon regarding a captivating concept. This concept aims to transform into a lifeform that will undoubtedly pique our interest. Although it poses a significant challenge, Simon's ideas are gradually taking shape into a narrative that will strongly resonate with people. I am unable to share any further information at this time, but stay tuned. Season 3 promises to bring forth some truly monumental ideas.

About Invasion Season 2

Presented by esteemed producer Simon Kinberg, known for his Academy Award and Emmy Award nominations, alongside David Weil, "Invasion" is an expansive and captivating science fiction drama series. This enthralling narrative unveils the gripping story of an alien invasion from diverse global perspectives. Spanning numerous continents, "Invasion" features an impressive cast including Shamier Anderson, Golshifteh Farahani, Sam Neill, Firas Nassar, and Shioli Kutsuna.

Invasion's thrilling second season continues with the aliens intensifying their assaults, leading to a full-blown war against humanity. The series features a talented cast including Golshifteh Farahani, Shioli Kutsuna, Shamier Anderson, India Brown, Billy Barratt, Azhy Robertson, Paddy Holland, and Tara Moayedi. Season two introduces new series regulars Enver Gjokaj, Nedra Marie Taylor, and Naian González Norvind.

Catch the latest episodes of Invasion season 2 exclusively on Apple TV+ every Wednesday.