ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Computer generated imagery

Hey kiddo, have you ever seen a really cool movie or show with special effects that looked like magic? Well, that magic is actually called Computer Generated Imagery or CGI for short.

CGI is a way of making pictures and videos using computers. When people want to make things that are too difficult or too dangerous to do in real life, they can use CGI to create it instead.

For example, imagine a movie where a giant monster is attacking a city. Instead of building a giant monster and smashing real buildings, filmmakers can create the monster and city using CGI.

CGI works by using special software that lets artists create 3D digital models of things like characters, creatures, and environments. These models are like electronic sculptures that can then be manipulated and animated to create movement and interaction.

Once the digital models are created, the software can simulate how they would look in different lighting conditions, with different materials and textures. This can make things look incredibly realistic, even though they were made entirely on a computer.

CGI can be used not only for movies and TV shows, but also for video games, virtual reality, and even in some medical and scientific fields.

So next time you see something on screen that looks too fantastical or surreal to be real, just remember that it might have been brought to life by CGI magic!