Ron Thornton, B5 special effects guru, dies

[Brian G Turner]

The man behind the - then ground-breaking - CGI for Babylon 5, has died:
Ron Thornton, Emmy-Winning Visual Effects Guru on 'Babylon 5,' Dies at 59

 

[Cat's Cradle]

I'll think of him at Christmas...I believe my wife has arranged with Santa to gift me the entire Babylon 5 universe this year.
I haven't seen the show in probably ten years, but the memories of those special effects thrill me. The Shadow vessels, for me, have never been surpassed. RIP, Mr. Thornton.

 

[Brian G Turner]

We've just started watching Season 4 - again for the adults, for the first time with the younger ones. Everyone's really enjoying it.

 

[SilentRoamer]

I really liked some of the Ancient races ships but I also feel the love for the shadow vessels - they always looked deadly.

RIP

 

[Brian G Turner]

Wethead Tweeted an old article where Ron Thornton briefly discussed his approach to ship designs:
Babylon 5's Ron Thornton on the secrets of spaceship design

The Shadow vessels were masterful - truly, dark angles. The Vorlon cephalod format was brilliant. Minbari "Angel Fish" were also very cool and memorable, as where the hard anf functional earth destroyers (though I wasn't a fan of the light cruiser - looked a little too fragile).

When I first watched B5 I thought the earth fighters were ripped off from Star Wars X-Wings. It's only later I realised it was because the physics of space was being modelled in flight, so the 4 wings in B5 fighters was for 4 different engines to allow full 360 degree movement - which I had to agree was a clever touch.

 

[Rodders]

RIP, Ron.