Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Game of Thrones: Stunning visual effects reel separates the real from the fake in season five

Fans can now see how some of the most impressive scenes were created

Thursday 16 July 2015 15:43 BST

The visual effects in Game of Thrones are famously impressive (HBO)

Ever wondered which buildings and sets are real and which are fake on Game of Thrones? Well now you can see the visual effects process for yourself, in a new behind-the-scenes reel from the VFX team.

The Mackevision video shows how digital artists brought the stunning environments to life in season five over a gruelling six months.

The Emmy Award-winning company was given the huge task of creating some of the hit HBO show's most iconic environments, including King's Landing and the Iron Bank.

The City of Braavos required special focus, while the House of Black and White was also brought to life thanks to some impressive CGI skills.

VFX supervisor Joern Grosshans led a team of 34 artists to realise everything from the Red Keep fortress to ships complete with water simulations and matte paintings of panoramas.

If you enjoyed the above video, then check out the CGI breakdown of the epic Battle of Hardhome that took a solid month to film and was put together by El Ranchito.

Seeing how the undeads skulls were crushed is particularly interesting, as is the way Kit Harrington's Jon Snow convincingly slays enemies that weren't even there.

Game of Thrones locations you can visit

Show all 10

1/10Game of Thrones locations you can visit

Game of Thrones locations you can visit

Mdina Gate

Often known as the Silent City, Mdina is the 4000 year-old capital of Malta. Mdina Gate is the entrance into the medieval walled city and sets the scene for Catelyn and Ser Rodrik’s ride into King’s Landing in series two, when they investigate the attack on Bran.

Rebelpilot

Game of Thrones locations you can visit

Hverfjall Volcano

Filming for the fourth series took place in the original land of ice and fire; Hverfjall Volcano in the Lake Myvatin region of Northern Iceland was a location used for the icy scenes. More specifically, you may recognise it as the place through which the White Walkers trudged beyond the wall (the Beyond The Wall area). Hverfjall erupted 2000 years ago and has a crater of 3280 feet wide.

Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason

Game of Thrones locations you can visit

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Hotel Belvedere, an abandoned hotel in Dubrovnik, Croatia featured in series four. The hotel was built in 1986 by the communist government of Yugoslavia and later abandoned during the 1991 Yugoslavia War, remaining so to this day. The abandoned hotel is thirteen storeys high and provides sweeping views of the coast. Empty swimming pools and political graffiti make for a spooky off-the-beaten-track location.

Jac Mac

Game of Thrones locations you can visit

Essaouira, Morocco

This sleepy fishing town was the location of scenes in series three of Game of Thrones, as the ancient city of Astapor. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the coastal town was designed by a Frenchman also responsible for designing the tourist town of St-Malo, on the Brittany coast. Once a thriving port in the Middle Ages, it now attracts many British tourists.

Martin Fisch

Game of Thrones locations you can visit

Azure Window, Gozo Malta

This natural arch made of limestone can be found on the island of Gozo and was created due to the collapse of sea caves. It featured in the first series as the location for the Dothraki wedding and previously in Clash of The Titans (1981) and The Count of Monte Cristo (2002). The spot is also popular with scuba divers.

Berit Watkin

Game of Thrones locations you can visit

Castle Ward, Northern Ireland

Castle Ward is an 18th century mansion and stately home combining a gothic and classic style, and one of Northern Ireland’s popular tourist attractions. The Castle and its 820 acres of grounds, most prominently the courtyard and interior, featured as Winterfell in series one. However, exterior shots of Doune Castle in Scotland were used as the exterior of the castle due to it being better suited.

Rossographer

Game of Thrones locations you can visit

Meteora, Greece

Many of the scenes in series one were filmed in Ireland, but shots from Meteora in Greece were used for the background scenery. Meteora is the second biggest complex of orthodox monasteries in Greece, second to Mount Athos. The six monasteries are built on naturally occurring sandstone pillars.

Danel Solabarrieta

Game of Thrones locations you can visit

Ballintoy Harbour, Northern Ireland

This harbour can be found at the end of a steep narrow road in the picturesque village of Ballintoy, Northern Ireland. It is known as the ‘raised beach’. Shots of the location were used for the Pyke and Iron Islands in series four.

William Marnoch

Game of Thrones locations you can visit

Lokrum Island, Croatia

Shots of the ancient port of Qarth in series two were filmed on the idyllic island of Lokrum, 500m from Croatia’s Dalmatian coast. A ferry ride from Dubrovnik, Lokrum is the destination of choice for day trips of tourists visiting the Dubrovnik area. It is home to a botanical garden, a monastery and many roaming peacocks.

Vince Traveller

Game of Thrones locations you can visit

The Dark Hedges, Northern Ireland

The Dark Hedges are often deemed one of the most picturesque examples of natural beauty in Northern Ireland, making them highly photographed and visited by tourists from around the world. The line of trees by the roadside represent The Kingsroad in season two, episode one.

Ana Rey

Game of Thrones is now off air after the dramatic season five finale last month, but is expected to return next spring for an already confirmed sixth run.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies