Award-winning visual effects and meticulous artistry come together in All The Light We Cannot See. For this mini-series, The Yard VFX helped transform a quiet French town into a war-torn coastal city—earning industry recognition at the 2024 HPA Awards.
When The Yard welcomed VFX content creator John SYB for a behind-the-scenes discussion, the conversation with VFX Supervisor Harry Bardak naturally turned to one of the studio’s recent projects: All The Light We Cannot See. Directed by Shawn Levy for Netflix, the four-part limited series adapts Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel into a visually rich historical drama set during World War II.
At the heart of the story are Marie-Laure LeBlanc, a blind French girl, and Werner Pfennig, a young German soldier—two lives intertwined through a clandestine radio broadcast amid the chaos of war. Bringing this emotional narrative to life required not only compelling performances but also an extraordinary level of visual authenticity.
The Yard VFX played a key role alongside major industry players, contributing 334 VFX shots across the series. Over a 10-month post-production period, the team undertook the complex task of transforming Villefranche-de-Rouergue—where much of the series was filmed—into a believable post-bombing 1945 Saint-Malo.
This transformation went far beyond simple digital touch-ups. The work ranged from subtle window composites to full CG set extensions enhanced with dynamic FX interactions. In total, seven distinct environments were created, each reflecting different times of day and atmospheric conditions. The challenge lay in seamlessly integrating CGI with live-action footage, ensuring continuity and emotional resonance throughout.
Concept art and paint-overs played a crucial role in shaping the visual direction. Once approved, the focus shifted to asset creation: 212 individual elements distributed across the seven environments. These ranged from large-scale structural damage to highly detailed props designed to give each building a sense of lived-in authenticity—an essential requirement from the director.
Lighting versatility was another major consideration. Assets needed to hold up under drastically different conditions, from fire-lit nighttime destruction to daylight scenes filtered through smoke and debris. This demanded a high level of precision in shading, texturing, and compositing.
Among the many stories shared during the interview, one stood out for its simplicity: a missing character cap that had to be recreated in 2D and animated to match the director’s vision. Though small in scale, it perfectly illustrates the level of detail and care invested in every frame.
The result of this collective effort was not only a visually compelling series but also industry recognition. The Yard’s work on All The Light We Cannot See earned the prestigious Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in an Episode or Series Season award at the 2024 Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) Awards.
This achievement highlights more than technical excellence—it reflects a commitment to storytelling through visual effects. By blending artistry, innovation, and collaboration, The Yard helped craft a world that feels both authentic and deeply human, reinforcing the emotional weight of a story set against one of history’s most turbulent periods.