Unveiling the Astounding Practical Effects Used in a Remarkable Barbie Movie Opening Scene

Summary

In a fascinating revelation, production designer Sarah Greenwood discloses an unexpected practical technique employed in Barbie. The film commences with a remarkable scene showcasing an enlarged Barbie figure, complete with genuine legs that are accessible for touching by the young girls.

Barbie deliberately employed practical effects to imitate the experience of play and establish a tangible and enjoyable world, instead of depending on CGI.

Additional practical effects utilized in Barbie involved employing conveyor belt tools to produce the illusion of movement and handcrafting sets, providing the film with a theatrical and vintage filming approach.

Production designer Sarah Greenwood has disclosed a remarkable fact about one particular scene in Barbie - it was created using practical effects rather than relying on CGI. Since its release, Barbie has emerged as one of the most successful films of 2023, smashing box-office records alongside Oppenheimer, and garnering praise from both audiences and critics. The scenes and sets in Barbie are characterized by a vibrant, playful, and audacious quality, and it has now been revealed that many of these effects were achieved through practical means. Kyle Buchanan of The New York Times has shed light on this surprising revelation made by Greenwood.

What Other Practical Effects Does Barbie Use?

The opening scene in Barbie pays tribute to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, setting the stage for the introduction of Barbie, the first adult doll designed for young girls. In this scene, the little girls discard their baby dolls as their eyes fixate on the magnificent Barbie, reminiscent of a monolith. Towering over them, Barbie's colossal size only allows the girls to reach up to her knees. To make Barbie's legs appear authentic, the production designer constructed and scaled them to resemble real legs. These lifelike legs were physically present on the set, allowing the little girls to interact and even touch them.

Not only does the opening scene of Barbie introduce Robbie's main character, but it also boasts several other impressive practical effects. Gerwig has disclosed her deliberate choice to incorporate practical effects in order to capture the essence of playtime on the big screen. This dedication to authenticity meant that many of the setpieces in Barbieland were tangible, rather than relying on computer-generated imagery.

Barbie and Ken (played by Ryan Gosling) venture out of Barbieland and into the real world, showcasing the most practical effects. Their journey takes them through various locations such as the desert, outer space, and a field of flowers. Despite their vehicle being stationary, the crew cleverly used conveyor belt tools to create the illusion of movement in the background and foreground elements, reminiscent of techniques employed in stage plays. Notably, all sets were meticulously handmade rather than relying on CGI, even for the outer space scene.

Director Gerwig aimed to maintain the movie's toy-like atmosphere by making the locations resemble diorama boxes rather than relying on digital effects. For instance, the outer space scene featured planets suspended by wires and clouds that gracefully moved on conveyor belts, while the field of flowers showcased real tulips in the foreground. Gerwig, along with the entire cast and crew, took immense pride in the theatrical approach and old-school filming style employed throughout. This resulted in Barbie creating a tangible, enjoyable, and splendid world that showcased the power of practicality in evoking a tone and spirit that technology often fails to capture.

Source: Kyle Buchanan/Twitter