Mar 20, 2023

Marvel's VFX and Animation Chief Victoria Alonso Leaves Studio

Victoria Alonso, who was in charge of animation and VFX for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), left the studio last Friday. The news was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

The reason for her departure is unknown; her departure was not expected.

Alonso has been with Marvel Studios for 17 years, dating back to before the studio was acquired by Disney. Most recently, she was promoted to President of Physical Post-Production, VFX, and Animation Production. He was also involved in the recent launch of Marvel's animation division.

In addition to her management roles, she has served as executive producer on the studio's projects since The Avengers (2012). Films produced under her leadership have grossed over $25 billion worldwide.

In a 2016 interview with Cartoon Brew, Alonso said of her role at the company, "I'm involved from start to finish, just like Kevin Feige and Luis D'Esposito. Like Kevin Feige and Luis D'Esposito, I am involved from the beginning to the end. And I am the one who sees the final frame of every shot in every format."

Arsono's departure comes amid a growing chorus of criticism from VFX workers on Marvel projects, including complaints of grueling work hours, unrealistic production schedules, and endless "pixel-fucking" of shots. In a recent article in Vulture, several workers claimed that Alonso maintains a blacklist of VFX workers. Given that Marvel productions utilize a vast number of vendor studios, being blacklisted could be career-destroying for those unlucky enough to be on Alonso's bad side.

"The main thing that everyone is pretty much afraid of is Victoria Alonso," one worker told the publication. 'She's what the industry calls a kingmaker. If she likes you, you will get the job and move up in the industry. If you offend her in the slightest, you will be frozen out."

In an interview with Alonso, when asked about the qualities she looks for in a VFX supervisor, she joked that "one thing I never sleep" and added that it is important to be "open to possibilities" since she "makes [Marvel] movies three times," with previs, shooting, and post.

Alonso, who is openly gay, emphasized diversity and inclusion in his work and supported minorities and underrepresented communities in animation. Regarding her efforts to include more women in the field, she told us But I want to know that girls are represented at some level. It is also a mistake to think that only visual effects supervisors make, create, and succeed in visual effects. There are dozens of female visual effects producers and countless artists."

Her memoir, titled Possibility is Your Superpower, will be published in May. The book chronicles her journey from growing up in La Plata, Argentina, to moving to the United States at age 19 and launching her career in VFX animation. Last summer it was announced that the book would be published by Disney's Hyperion Avenue.