10 Greatest CGI Moments In Doctor Who History
We always talk about the awful CGI in Doctor Who, but what about the times it was a great success?
It’s easy, and often amusing, to point out the less-than-stellar examples of CGI used in Doctor Who’s history but that isn’t to ignore the times when it has been executed phenomenally. For while the flaws are glaringly obvious, the successes are designed to blend in and maintain the illusion that these impossible worlds and creatures could absolutely exist. The aim is to not be noticed, but that also means they aren’t often praised.
The vast majority of the classic era relied on practical effects to achieve these otherworldly creations but as technology evolved so too did Doctor Who. So, when the 2005 revival came around, the creatives had a whole new wheelhouse to experiment with. For as much as practical effects are intrinsic to the show, the past 20 years have proven that computer-generated imagery can elevate the world-building to entirely new heights.
From elaborate spaceships to giant insects, the modern era of Doctor Who is full of incredible CGI moments that deserve a moment in the spotlight - away from the looming shadows of talking babies and sticky wheelie bins...
10. The TARDIS Collapsing (Eve Of The Daleks)
While the TARDIS interior has always been a practical set, by 2022 the CGI skills and technology available allowed for incredible sequences like the collapsing of the TARDIS control room in Eve of the Daleks.
This moment looks fantastic, with the walls cracking and collapsing as Jodie Whittaker runs in slow motion through the chaos. The editing must also be commended for seamlessly cutting between the footage shot on the physical set and the sequence created in post production. It blends together so well that it’s impossible to tell where reality ends and CGI begins!
In the past, a scene calling for the collapsing of the TARDIS interior would probably have required the destruction of the physical set (looking at you The End of Time Part 2) and so to be able to achieve the complete implosion of the TARDIS without damaging a single round thing is both remarkable from a technical standpoint, but also from a practical one too. We all know Doctor Who loves to penny-pinch.
Gone are the days when the best substitute for the TARDIS set was hanging up a sheet and turning the lights down in the hope that no one noticed. How times have changed.