Today in pulp let's look back at a tech-noir classic that pushed the boundaries of early CGI, as well as using more traditional animation and post-production skills: TRON! Get your light cycle ready...

TRON was released in 1982, four years after Disney's earlier film The Black Hole had established the studio's emerging interest in sci-fi. However TRON had been in development since 1976 and was initially pitched as a traditional animated motion picture.

Director Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird wrote the TRON script, and after discussion with Disney they decided to use live-action elements with both backlit and computer animation into the movie. This would test the technology of 1982 to the limit.

TRON is a film about a computer programmer transported inside a mainframe computer. He has to compete with the other programs and play a number of life-or-death games in his attempt to escape. It's The Matrix meets Squid Game, but with laser frisbee.

The look of TRON is influenced by two things: motherboards and vector graphics. Most computer aided design at the time used wireframes, as did popular arcade games such as Battlezone. The vector look, especially on a black background, was '80s cool!

The TRON cast included Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Cindy Morgan and a scene-stealing performance (I think) from David Warner as the villainous Sark.

Information International provided most of the CGI on TRON using a Foonley F-1: a high-speed, 36-bit computer that was one of the most advanced bits of kit commercially available.

To help share the CGI load of TRON, New York's MAGI company came on board with more computing power and the SynthaVision system: a library of 25 pre-formed solid CGI shapes. Without MAGI the Light Cycles would have ended up all polygons.

Jean Giraud (Mœbius) was the main costume and set designer for TRON. Backlit animation was used for many effects, so costumes and sets were shot in monochrome with colours added in post-production to create a shimmering futuristic look.

Alas TRON was up against Blade Runner, E.T. and Wrath of Khan at the box office so it wasn't a huge hit. However the TRON arcade and home video games helped make up the box office shortfall, though the other movie merchandise was a bit so-so.

TRON Legacy was released in 2010 and was pretty awesome on the IMAX screen. TRON Ares is out later this year too.

TRON is an analogue rendering of a digital future. Disney took a risk and put its best minds to it, took the concept seriously and built an immersive sense of a future world that really sticks in the mind. It still looks way cool today: the Meta World brought to life.

Disney films in the early '80s often took risks, and not all were commercial successes. But TRON was a genuinely original idea, an amazing aesthetic, and a cool movie to boot! More stories another time...

From smarter customer support to groundbreaking innovations, discover why AI technology is more than just talk, it’s a game-changer. With real-world examples and insights into overcoming challenges, this episode is your ultimate guide to navigating AI revolution. Listen now 🎧