The first She-Hulk trailer gave audiences an early indication of how the Disney+ show may shape up, yet many viewers were left wondering exactly why She-Hulk's CGI looks so bad. Available footage shows series' stars Mark Ruffalo, Tim Roth and protagonist Tatiana Maslany in full flow as the original Jade Giant, Abomination and titular She-Hulk respectively. Yet, despite the understandable excitement around these interactions and their implications for the wider MCU, there is legitimate concern over what seems to be substandard CGI compromising the overall vision.
The She-Hulk trailer features attorney Jennifer Walters both navigating the legal profession in a so-called "super-human law division" and her relationship with her cousin Bruce Banner. Although the trailer keeps concrete plot details to a minimum, Bruce is seen helping to train Jennifer in the art of heroism, all while helping her control the more powerful She-Hulk alter-ego. Unlike several previous versions of Bruce, however, Jennifer seems to be capable of functioning in public fairly quickly, appearing as a slightly larger, green-tinged version of herself – as opposed to the muscle-bound raging fighter from Thor: Ragnarok. It is in this more physically imposing form that the CGI issues become apparent. Unlike many prior MCU Hulk appearances, She-Hulk seems clumsily and unconvincingly rendered, especially when interacting with members of the public. This has raised some serious questions among audiences, with many concerned as to exactly why the effects look so ropey.
There are several possible explanations for why She-Hulk's CGI looks so bad. One important consideration is that, given the VFX-heavy nature of the series (especially when compared to other recent Disney+ entries like Hawkeye), She-Hulk demands that more of its budget be spent on covering CGI costs. With comparatively limited resources, particularly against a fully-fledged cinematic release, it's perhaps unsurprising that some corners may have been cut. Additionally, there's the precarious state of the VFX industry in general to consider. According to a recent report by Inverse, "The VFX industry has been in trouble for a very long time," with concerns over spiraling studio demands and quality control. The same article explained that this is not the first time Marvel has encountered these issues, with the studio struggling even on big-budget projects like 2018's Black Panther. This could be a key reason why She-Hulk seems comparatively unpolished.
Although many concerns are legitimate, there is also reason to be optimistic about the state of She-Hulk's CGI. For one thing, the She-Hulk trailer has been released several months before the show itself is actually due to air. Theoretically, this leaves a potential window for the series' VFX to be refined and worked on. While this is not as long a run-in as many CGI-heavy projects, this timeline does nonetheless provide the opportunity for the end result to be improved.
It's also important to consider the fact that Marvel is no stranger to pulling off challenging CGI projects with its TV shows. Loki, for example, featured entirely computer-generated sequences, including off-world fights and multiple CGI characters. For the most part, these sequences were rendered effectively and convincingly, giving every indication that She-Hulk will be able to do the same. There's no doubt that the first trailer gives some cause for concern. However, Marvel and Disney+'s track record suggests that, by the time She-Hulk truly appears, many of these issues will be resolved.
