Lens Flare: Difference between revisions

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3D videogames in the mid-to-late 1990s were absolutely polluted with fake-looking lens flare effects. The [[Play Station]] port of Quake II added a little star-shaped glare effect ''and'' a lens flare around every light source on the map. Walking down a corridor with spotlights was a ridiculous experience. Games journalists therefore refer to any bandwagon visual effect as [http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=%22is+the+new+lens+flare%22&btnG=Search&meta= "the new lens flare".]

 

 

Artists have many debates over the use of lens flares in animation and CGI. Ironically, the artificial element can add a touch of realism (even without [[The Coconut Effect]]) due to the fact that the user is watching the image through a screen<ref>Unless it's flat. Which an increasing proportion of televisions are.</ref>. Others feel that the lens flare has been overused and doesn't truly add anything to the image, other than distracting from the quality (or lack there of) of the image.

* ''[[Gurren Lagann]]'' uses these to an extreme, each and every [[Eyecatch]] uses at least one lens flare.

* The opening stock footage (right after the opening) of ''[[Serial Experiments Lain]]'' contains a bit of lens flare.

 

 

* Parodied in ''[[Hot Fuzz]]''. When Sgt. Angel is in the pub for the first time doing his little [[Sherlock Scan]] on all the minors in the pub he spots one kid who smiles at the same time a car outside turns on its lights, causing a hilariously over the top Flare that blinds Sgt. Angel.

* In the second ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean]]'' movie, the camera does a worm's-eye-view of Jack on the ship's deck, with a big ring-shaped lens flare surrounding him. The DVD commentary shamelessly calls that "the greatest lens flare in cinema".

** Most of flares in the movie were real however, as it was VERY brightly lit, with the ship shining everywhere, causing the flares.

* ''[[Super 8]]'': The amount of scenes ''don't'' have a lens flare could be counted with both hands.

* ''[[Lost]]'' often used [[Lens Flare]], fueling some [[Epileptic Trees]] theories about "mysterious flashes" turning up in some scenes.

* ''[[Southland]]'' is riddled with them.

 

 

 

== Tabletop Games ==

 

== Video Games ==

* ''Perfect World International'''s debut trailer's use of lens flare was savaged by Kotaku's debut (and only) episode of Trailer Trash. Their response? Make a new trailer, ''[[Self-Deprecation|Now with more lens flare]]".

* '97 racing game ''POD'' featured lens flares around the sun of the alien planet the game was set on. Yes, that sun that was usually obscured by dark [[Blood Moon|red clouds]]. All you saw was the... lens flare.

* This is decently done for the opening animation in ''[[Sonic Advance]] 2'', a Game Boy Advance game. The "camera" flies across the ocean before panning up to reveal an island. It continues to fly up, giving us a lens flare, then the title screen.

* ''[[Vectorman]]'' might be the first video game to feature a lens flare.

* ''[[Mass Effect]]'' has this for any light or computer screen, creating a the "imaginary line" version of the flare, and being a techy sci-fi game, this is practically everywhere...

 

 

== Webcomics ==

* ''[[Fey Winds]]'': [http://kitsune.rydia.net/comic/page.php?id=28 He has his own lens flare... That's wrong.]

* ''[[Questionable Content]]'': [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1485 Samurai AnthroPC vs. squirrel]

** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2110 Now featuring lens flare] [[Recycled in Space|IN SPAAACE!]]

== Web Original ==

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHqjmlM3kxs Lens Flare: The Movie]

 

 

== Western Animation ==

 

 

[[Category:Lens Flare]]

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