The Fallout TV series, released on Prime Video in 2024, showcases an impressive array of visual effects that bring its post-apocalyptic world to life. The production seamlessly blends practical effects with advanced CGI, creating a visually immersive experience that captivates both new viewers and longtime fans of the original video game series. We at Refuge are proud to have contributed to the visual effects in many ways, helping to craft the rich and immersive world that makes Fallout such a unique and unforgettable experience.

Fallout

Episode 1, “Welcome To The End”

Episode 1, Welcome to the End, kicks off the series by showing the stark contrast between the perfect pre-war world and the brutal wasteland that follows. For this episode, we handled a ton of set extensions, expanding the Vault interiors and the ruined landscapes above. We also did extensive volume cleanup, making sure the LED volume blended seamlessly with practical sets, along with adding destruction, weathering, and other effects to enhance the world. From refining the smallest details in the Vault to selling the vastness of the wasteland, our work helped bring Fallout’s iconic look to life.

The Vault Extension

The Vault set for Fallout was incredible—both visually stunning and meticulously designed. But there's never enough money to build an entire set, so certain sections had to be extended digitally rather than constructed practically. Our team handled a significant number of these Vault set extensions, particularly in areas where full construction wasn’t feasible.

One of the most challenging shots involved Lucy walking out in her wedding dress. This moment also introduced the Telesonic Projector, known as the “Magic of 3D,” which creates the illusion of a thriving farm within the Vault’s internal cornfields. The projector allows Vault inhabitants to feel as if they are living a normal life, rather than surviving in a post-apocalyptic world. Later in the story, this system is compromised, revealing the distorted reality beneath the illusion.

For this particular set extension, we faced an additional challenge: the camera was pointed directly into the set lighting, causing intense lens flares. Fallout is shot on film, not digital, using vintage anamorphic lenses, which added another layer of complexity when compositing these shots.

Before After

Despite the extensive work involved, the effort isn’t immediately apparent on screen. In fact, the composite went through 121 versions before reaching the final cut.

Ultimately, the only way to make the flares feel natural was to integrate them seamlessly into the shot and over the CG elements. We also added subtle offscreen flares to help blend the CG with the original light in the plate. A combination of carefully animated grading adjustments and meticulous compositing brought everything together, ensuring the final shot felt cohesive and authentic.

Going Outside

Another complicated shot was when Lucy stepped out into the world above the Vault. Her shock and fear as she takes her first steps into the unknown are unmistakable—this is her first time seeing the real world, and the weight of that moment had to be captured perfectly. The scene was shot at sunset, with the sun beaming in from behind her, creating a breathtakingly cinematic image. The natural backlight enhanced the emotion of the moment, silhouetting her figure and illuminating her hair as it blew in the wind, adding a striking, ethereal quality.

However, this beautiful lighting setup came with a challenge. There wasn’t a green screen large enough to capture the fine details in her hair, making keying difficult. The intense backlight also introduced lens flares, soft glows, and subtle light wraps, making it tricky to extract a clean silhouette while preserving the natural feel of the shot

Before After

Another challenge was the Vault entrance, which was meant to be placed behind Lucy but would have blocked the sunset. To make it work, we strategically cut a section out of the CG model, just enough to allow the sun to peek over the Vault entrance wall while still maintaining the structure’s realism.

To seamlessly integrate Lucy into the shot, we combined detailed hair rotoscoping with edge blending to preserve the fine details in her hair. Additional light wraps and precise grading adjustments helped blend her naturally into the environment, ensuring the shot retained its stunning backlight while placing her in the devastated, post-apocalyptic world.

This was a perfect example of how a beautifully shot practical setup can introduce unexpected VFX challenges—but with the right approach, we were able to preserve the cinematic impact.

Fallout received 17 Emmy nominations in 2024. It was also nominated for awards at the Television Critics Association Awards and the Gotham TV Awards. 

Emmy nominations 

  • Outstanding Drama Series

  • Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Walton Goggins

Television Critics Association Awards nominations Outstanding Achievement in Drama and Outstanding New Program. 

Gotham TV Awards nominations Breakthrough Drama Series and Outstanding Performance in a Drama Series. 

The Fallout TV series also won Emmy awards for: Outstanding Music Supervision and Outstanding Emerging Media Program.