The visual effects studio delivered 450 shots on Prime Video’s hit series, including world-building, period environments, train sequence work, and Megawatt effects created in collaboration with ILM.
Barnstorm VFX has shared with VFXWorld and AWN a VFX breakdown reel highlighting their work on Prime Video’s hit series, Spider-Noir. The studio delivered 450 shots for the show’s first season, including work on the episode “Nightmare on a Gurney,” which received a nomination for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Single Episode at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards.
The live-action series, from Sony Pictures Television with Marvel Entertainment in association with Amazon MGM Studios and MGM Television, premiered all eight Season 1 episodes on this past May 27. Based on the Marvel comic “Spider-Man Noir,” Spider-Noir tells the story of Ben Reilly, played by Nicolas Cage, a seasoned, down-on-his-luck private investigator in 1930s New York who is forced to grapple with his past life, following a deeply personal tragedy, as the city’s one and only superhero.
The series features a distinctive and unique viewing option that allows audiences to watch in either Authentic Black & White or True-Hue Full Color. Visual effects were delivered by a collaborative team of several studios, including Barnstorm VFX, led by Production VFX Supervisor Hnedel Maximore and VFX Producer Brooke Noska.
Enjoy the VFX breakdown reel, then read more about how the work was produced:
Barnstorm VFX was involved early in the process, developing conceptual world-building work that contributed to the look and feel of the show’s period fantasy noir setting. In Episode 103, the team handled the train sequence, covering environment, animation, and FX work, and developed the train station with CG set extensions, trains, and period cars.
In Episodes 106 and 108, Barnstorm VFX collaborated with ILM on fire and electricity effects in the neck, face, and arm veins of Megawatt, played by Dirk Leydan. The work required subtle continuity adjustments between studios across multiple shots.
Barnstorm used Nuke, Houdini, Deadline, Arnold, AWS, and Qumulo on the project.
“Led by Tommy Tran, the team at Barnstorm did an amazing job with a wide variety of invisible VFX throughout the season,” Maximore said. “With a clear understanding of our noir aesthetic, they were a key part of our VFX world building. Barnstorm partnered with ILM to complete sequences with Megawatt (Dirk Leydan) in ep 106 and 108. Their stellar environment, animation and FX work in the 103 train sequence is certainly a season highlight. Brooke and I would always joke that Barnstorm was our research / lab partner. Their willingness to experiment, and brainstorm on processes no matter where we were in the process made them indispensable. They are creative partners through and through. I have always enjoyed working with Barnstorm over the years and I’m glad we reconnected on Spider-Noir.”
“Barnstorm is the kind of place everybody wants to work with because they’re deeply collaborative, incredibly talented, and fearless when solving problems,” Noska said. “There’s a friendly and down-to-earth atmosphere, but behind it is a true powerhouse of artists, producers, and pipeline innovators. They move fast, think outside the box, and consistently provide smart creative options with surprising speed. Barnstorm did a great job helping us develop the world of Spider-Noir.”
“Working with my former colleagues, Hnedel and Brooke, has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this project,” Barnstorm VFX Senior VFX Supervisor Tran said. “Earlier in our careers, we all worked together at the same VFX studio, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see those relationships continue to grow through new collaborations. I often tell them that ‘my job is to help you sleep better at night,’ and that philosophy has guided my approach throughout my career. My goal is to provide dependable creative and technical leadership so our clients can focus on the bigger picture with confidence. On behalf of the team at Barnstorm VFX, we’re proud to specialize in delivering complex, high-impact sequences rather than entire shows. That focus allows us to devote exceptional attention and care to every shot we undertake. Spider-Noir was no exception. We’re incredibly proud of the work our team delivered and honored to be part of such an outstanding, Emmy-nominated production.”
“We’re thrilled by the positive reception the show has received–including the Emmy nomination,” Barnstorm VFX CEO, Co-Founder, and Executive Producer Cory Jamieson said. “It’s especially rewarding to see audiences embrace a superhero story that exists within such a distinct period universe. Working alongside Hnedel, Brooke, Sony, and Amazon was a genuinely collaborative and inspiring experience. The project also played directly to Barnstorm’s strengths — period environments, world-building, and finding elegant solutions within real-world production constraints. Spider-Noir required a very specific visual style, and together we found ways to deliver a cinematic sense of scale while remaining grounded. Coming from a television background, we’re always focused on achieving ambitious visuals through workflows that are streamlined, practical, and creatively effective. Hnedel and Brooke were tremendous partners in that process. Having built strong relationships with them across multiple projects, there was already a level of trust that allowed us to experiment, refine ideas quickly, and ultimately elevate the work. It truly felt like a creative partnership from start to finish.”
The client-side VFX team included VFX Supervisor Hnedel Maximore and VFX Producer Brooke Noska. Barnstorm VFX’s team included CEO, Co-Founder, and Executive Producer Cory Jamieson; CCO, Co-Founder, and Executive VFX Supervisor Lawson Deming; Executive Producer Lindsey Yates; Global Head of Production Chad Hudson; Senior VFX Supervisor Tommy Tran; VFX Producers Tara DeSimone and Preeya Kalidas; Production Manager Ilse Martinez; VFX Coordinator Kamaira LeBlanc; Compositing Supervisors Bill Parker and Darpan Kataria; and CG Supervisors Nick Chamberlain and Casi Blume.
Source: Barnstorm VFX
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
