10 Greatest CGI Moments In Doctor Who History
6. The Colony Ship (World Enough And Time)
We’ve seen our fair share of spaceships in Doctor Who but few are as impressive as the colony ship in World Enough and Time. The CGI for this behemoth is superb. Specifically the opening shot which really conveys the scale of the ship with its many different floors and dizzying length.
In the early years of the modern era, shots of computer-generated things were often shown very briefly with lots of quick cuts made to avoid lingering on and exposing any imperfections. Here though, we spend extended periods of time focussing and zooming in on this creation, inviting extensive examination and attention.
And then there’s the black hole. It looks fantastic. The attention to detail, the colours, the depth and magnitude all make it feel epic and grand in scale. Compared to the black hole seen in The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit, this is a vast improvement in CGI. The skill and technology on display here is top-notch – just look at the attention to detail and quality in only a reflection of the black hole in a window, let alone the shots of the thing in its full proper glory.
For a story that ends in such a tragic way, it begins with some truly stunning imagery. An image of something so contradictory in its beauty and terror – a description most accurate for this entire two-part finale.