Awards & Winners

MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects

MTV Video Music Award

The following is a list of MTV Video Music Awards winners for Best Visual Effects in a Video, a category that has been given out almost every year since the first ceremony in 1984. From 1984 to 2011, though, the award was named Best Special Effects in a Video, and it was not until 2012 that it acquired its current name. The award's biggest winner is singer Peter Gabriel, who has received this award three times. Meanwhile, with six nominations, rapper Missy Elliott is the most nominated artist in the award's history. Right behind her are the aforementioned Gabriel and U2, who received four nominations each. On the side of the professionals, meanwhile, only two have won this award multiple times: director Jim Blashfield and special effects artist Sean Broughton, each of whom won twice. In terms of nominations, on the other hand, there is also a tie for most nominated between special effects supervisors David Yardley and Fred Raimondi as well as the Brothers Strause-headed studio Pixel Envy, for all three are quadruple nominees.
Date Established : 1984

Check all the winners of MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects presented under MTV Video Music Award since 1984 .


OK Go

Honored for : The Writing\u2019s On The Wall
(Special Effects: 1stAveMachine)

Nominations 2014 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Disclosure Grab Her!
Special Effects: Mathematic and Emile Sornin
DJ Snake Turn Down For What
Special Effects: DANIELS and Zak Stoltz
Lil Jon Turn Down For What
Special Effects: DANIELS and Zak Stoltz
Eminem Rap God
Special Effects: Rich Lee, Louis Baker, Mammal Studios, Laundry! and Sunset Edit
Jack White Lazaretto
Special Effects: Mathematic and Jonas & François
OK Go The Writing\u2019s On The Wall
Special Effects: 1stAveMachine

Capital Cities, Grady Hall, Jonathan Wu, Derek Johnson

Honored for : Safe and Sound
(Visual Effects: Grady Hall, Jonathan Wu and Derek Johnson)

Nominations 2013 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Duck Sauce It's You
Visual Effects: Royal Post / Paris
Royal Post / Paris It's You
Visual Effects: Royal Post / Paris
Flying Lotus Tiny Tortures
Visual Effects: Dustin Bowser
Dustin Bowser Tiny Tortures
Visual Effects: Dustin Bowser
Skrillex Breakn' a Sweat
Visual Effects: RADICAL FRIEND
The Doors Breakn' a Sweat
Visual Effects: RADICAL FRIEND
Bonnie Brae Breakn' a Sweat
Visual Effects: RADICAL FRIEND
BEMO Breakn' a Sweat
Visual Effects: RADICAL FRIEND
Jeff Dotson Breakn' a Sweat
Visual Effects: RADICAL FRIEND
Erik Lee Breakn' a Sweat
Visual Effects: RADICAL FRIEND
The Weeknd Wicked Games
Visual Effects: Drop and Abel
Drop and Abel Wicked Games
Visual Effects: Drop and Abel
Capital Cities Safe and Sound
Visual Effects: Grady Hall, Jonathan Wu and Derek Johnson
Grady Hall Safe and Sound
Visual Effects: Grady Hall, Jonathan Wu and Derek Johnson
Jonathan Wu Safe and Sound
Visual Effects: Grady Hall, Jonathan Wu and Derek Johnson
Derek Johnson Safe and Sound
Visual Effects: Grady Hall, Jonathan Wu and Derek Johnson

Skrillex

Honored for : First of the Year (Equinox)
(Visual Effects: Deka Brothers and Tony Truand Datis)

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Skrillex First of the Year (Equinox)
Visual Effects: Deka Brothers and Tony \"Truand\" Datis
David Guetta Turn Me On
Visual Effects: Alex Frisch, Joe Harkins, Scott Metzger and Vico Sharabani
Nicki Minaj Turn Me On
Visual Effects: Alex Frisch, Joe Harkins, Scott Metzger and Vico Sharabani
Linkin Park Burn It Down
Visual Effects: Ghost Town Media
Katy Perry Wide Awake
Visual Effects: Ingenuity Engine
Rihanna Where Have You Been
Visual Effects: BAKED FX

Katy Perry, Kanye West

Honored for : E.T.
(Special Effects: Jeff Dotson for Dot & Effects)

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Katy Perry E.T.
Special Effects: Jeff Dotson for Dot & Effects
Kanye West E.T.
Special Effects: Jeff Dotson for Dot & Effects
Chromeo Don't Turn The Lights On
Special Effects: The Mill
Kanye West Power
Special Effects: Nice Shoes and ArtJail
Dwele Power
Special Effects: Nice Shoes and ArtJail
Linkin Park Waiting For The End
Special Effects: Ghost Town Media
Manchester Orchestra Simple Math
Special Effects: DANIELS

Muse

Honored for : Uprising
(Special Effects: Humble and Sam Stephens)

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Muse Uprising
Special Effects: Humble and Sam Stephens
Dan Black Symphonies
Special Effects: Corinne Bance and Axel D\u2019Harcourt
Eminem Not Afraid
Special Effects: Animaholics-VFX
Green Day 21st Century Breakdown
Special Effects: Laundry
Lady Gaga Bad Romance
Special Effects: Skulley Effects VFX

Lady Gaga

Honored for : Paparazzi
(Special Effects: Chimney Pot)

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Eminem We Made You
Special Effects: Ingenuity Engine
Lady Gaga Paparazzi
Special Effects: Chimney Pot
Kanye West Paranoid
Special Effects: Wizardflex and Ghost Town Media
Mr Hudson Paranoid
Special Effects: Wizardflex and Ghost Town Media
Beyoncé Knowles Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Special Effects: VFX Effects and Louis Mackall V
Gnarls Barkley Who's Gonna Save My Soul
Special Effects: Gradient Effects and Image Metrics

Kanye West, T-Pain

Honored for : Good Life
(Special Effects: SoMe, Jonas & François)

Nominations 2008 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Missy Elliott Ching-A-Ling/Shake Your Pom Pom 3D
Special Effects: Les Umberger
Linkin Park Bleed It Out
Special Effects: David Lebensfeld and Adam Catino
Coldplay Violet Hill
Special Effects: Asa Mader
Erykah Badu Honey
Special Effects: X1 FX
Kanye West Good Life
Special Effects: SoMe, Jonas & François
T-Pain Good Life
Special Effects: SoMe, Jonas & François

Missy Elliott

Honored for : We Run This
(Special Effects: Louis Mackall and Tonia Wallander)

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Missy Elliott We Run This
Special Effects: Louis Mackall and Tonia Wallander
Beck Hansen Hell Yes
Special Effects: Hammer & Tongs
U2 Original of the Species
Special Effects: John Leamy and Lawrence Nimrichter
Pearl Jam Life Wasted
Special Effects: Fernando Apodaca
Angels & Airwaves The Adventure
Special Effects: Jack Effects

Gorillaz

Honored for : Feel Good Inc.
(Special Effects: Passion Pictures)

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee Nominated Work
The Mars Volta The Widow
Special Effects: Artificial Army
Missy Elliott Lose Control
Special Effects: Radium
Ciara Lose Control
Special Effects: Radium
Fatman Scoop Lose Control
Special Effects: Radium
Gorillaz Feel Good Inc.
Special Effects: Passion Pictures
Ludacris Number One Spot
Special Effects: 20Twenty
U2 Vertigo
Special Effects: Jam Abelenet
Coldplay Speed of Sound
Special Effects: A52

Outkast

Honored for : Hey Ya!
(Special Effects: Elad Offer, Chris Eckardt and Money Shots)

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee Nominated Work
The White Stripes The Hardest Button to Button
Special Effects: Richard de Carteret, Angus Kneale and Dirk Greene
Outkast Hey Ya!
Special Effects: Elad Offer, Chris Eckardt and Money Shots
Incubus Megalomaniac
Special Effects: Jake Banks, Matt Marquis and Stardust Studios
Modest Mouse Float On
Special Effects: Christopher Mills and Revolver Film Company
Steriogram Walkie Talkie Man
Special Effects: Angus Kneale, Jamie Scott and The Mill

Queens of the Stone Age

Honored for : Go with the Flow
(Special Effects: Nigel Sarrag)

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Radiohead There There
Special Effects: John Williams and Dave Lea
The White Stripes Seven Nation Army
Special Effects: BUF
Missy Elliott Work It
Special Effects: Realm Productions
Floetry Floetic
Special Effects: Base 2 Studios
Queens of the Stone Age Go with the Flow
Special Effects: Nigel Sarrag

The White Stripes

Honored for : Fell in Love with a Girl
(Special Effects: Twisted Labs and Sebastian Fau)

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Will Smith Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head)
Special Effects: Pixel Envy
Missy Elliott One Minute Man
Special Effects: Nathan McGuinness and Marc Varisco
Ludacris One Minute Man
Special Effects: Nathan McGuinness and Marc Varisco
Trina One Minute Man
Special Effects: Nathan McGuinness and Marc Varisco
P.O.D. Alive
Special Effects: Pixel Envy
The White Stripes Fell in Love with a Girl
Special Effects: Twisted Labs and Sebastian Fau

Robbie Williams

Honored for : Rock DJ
(Special Effects: Carter White FX, Audio Motion and Clear Post Production)

Nominations 2001 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Robbie Williams Rock DJ
Special Effects: Carter White FX, Audio Motion and Clear Post Production
Fatboy Slim Weapon of Choice
Special Effects: Ben Gibbs
U2 Elevation (Tomb Raider Remix)
Special Effects: Pixel Envy and Chris Watts
Missy Elliott Get Ur Freak On
Special Effects: Glenn Bennett

Björk

Honored for : All Is Full Of Love
(Special Effects: Glassworks)

Nominations 2000 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Björk All Is Full Of Love
Special Effects: Glassworks
Lauryn Hill Everything Is Everything
Special Effects: Method Studios
Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication
Special Effects: Pixel Envy
Metallica I Disappear
Special Effects: Asylum Visual Effects
Supergrass Pumping On Your Stereo
Special Effects: Jim Henson's Creature Shop

Garbage

Honored for : Special
(Special Effects: Sean Broughton, Stuart D. Gordon and Paul Simpson of Digital Domain)

Nominations 1999 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Garbage Special
Special Effects: Sean Broughton, Stuart D. Gordon and Paul Simpson of Digital Domain
The Black Eyed Peas Joints & Jams
Special Effects: Brian Beletic and Todd Somodivilla
Korn Freak On A Leash
Special Effects: Matt Beck, Edson Williams, and the Brothers Strause
Janet Jackson What's It Gonna Be?!
Special Effects: Fred Raimondi
Busta Rhymes What's It Gonna Be?!
Special Effects: Fred Raimondi
Madonna Nothing Really Matters
Special Effects: Johan Renck, Bjorn Benckert and Tor-Bjorn Olsson
Will Smith Miami
Special Effects: Eric Swenson, Andrea Mansour and Simon Mowbray

Madonna

Honored for : Frozen
(Special Effects: Steve Murgatroyd, Dan Williams, Steve Hiam, and Anthony Walsham)

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Foo Fighters Everlong
Special Effects: Paul Sokol and Chris W.
Aerosmith Pink
Special Effects: Kevin Yagher
Madonna Frozen
Special Effects: Steve Murgatroyd, Dan Williams, Steve Hiam, and Anthony Walsham
Garbage Push It
Special Effects: Sebasten Caudron
Aphex Twin Come To Daddy
Special Effects: Chris Cunningham

Jamiroquai

Honored for : Virtual Insanity
(Special Effects: Jonathan Glazer and Sean Broughton)

Nominations 1997 »

Nominee Nominated Work
The Smashing Pumpkins The End Is The Beginning Is The End
Special Effects: Chris Staves, Nigel Randall, Edson Williams and the Brothers Strause
Jamiroquai Virtual Insanity
Special Effects: Jonathan Glazer and Sean Broughton
Marilyn Manson The Beautiful People
Special Effects: D.A.V.E. and Panic & Bob
Will Smith Men In Black
Special Effects: Paul Griffin, Alan Rosenfield and Wade Howie
Eels Novocaine for the Soul
Special Effects: Ashley Clemens

The Smashing Pumpkins

Honored for : Tonight, Tonight
(Special Effects:Chris Staves)

Nominations 1996 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Tha Crossroads
Special Effects: Cameron Noble
The Beatles Free As A Bird
Special Effects: Johnny Senered, Kristen Johnson and Ben Gibbs
Green Day Walking Contradiction
Special Effects: Jefferson Wagner and Brian Boles
The Smashing Pumpkins Tonight, Tonight
Special Effects: Chris Staves

The Rolling Stones

Honored for : Love Is Strong
(Special Effects: Fred Raimondi)

Nominations 1995 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Björk Army of Me
Special Effects: BUF
The Rolling Stones Love Is Strong
Special Effects: Fred Raimondi
TLC Waterfalls
Special Effects: Peter Conn and Chris Mitchell
Madonna Human Nature
Janet Jackson Scream
Special Effects: Kevin Tod Haug, Alexander Frisch, Ashley Clemens, Richard 'Dr.' Baily, Jay Johnson and P. Scott Makela
Michael Jackson Scream
Special Effects: Kevin Tod Haug, Alexander Frisch, Ashley Clemens, Richard 'Dr.' Baily, Jay Johnson and P. Scott Makela

Peter Gabriel

Honored for : Kiss That Frog
(Special Effects: Brett Leonard and Angel Studios)

Nominations 1994 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Peter Gabriel Kiss That Frog
Special Effects: Brett Leonard and Angel Studios
Tool Prison Sex
Special Effects: Adam Jones
Björk Human Behaviour
Special Effects: Michel Gondry
Aerosmith Amazing
Special Effects: Cream Cheese Films and Video Image

Peter Gabriel

Honored for : Steam
(Special Effects: Real World Productions and Colossal Pictures)

Nominations 1993 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Billy Idol Shock to the System
Special Effects: Stan Winston
Aerosmith Livin' on the Edge
Special Effects: Cream Cheese Productions
Sananda Maitreya She Kissed Me
Special Effects: Michel Gondry
Peter Gabriel Steam
Special Effects: Real World Productions and Colossal Pictures

U2

Honored for : Even Better Than the Real Thing
(Special Effects: Simon Taylor)

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee Nominated Work
David Byrne She's Mad
Special Effects: Carlos Arguello and Michele Ferrone
Michael Jackson Black or White
Special Effects: Jamie Dixon
U2 Even Better Than the Real Thing
Special Effects: Simon Taylor
Def Leppard Let's Get Rocked
Special Effects: Ian Pearson

Faith No More

Honored for : Falling to Pieces
(Special Effects: David Faithfull and Ralph Ziman)

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee Nominated Work
MC Hammer Here Comes the Hammer
Special Effects: Fred Raimondi and Maury Rosenfeld
The Replacements When It Began
Special Effects: Carl Bressler and Paul Rachman
Seal Crazy
Special Effects: Big TV!
Faith No More Falling to Pieces
Special Effects: David Faithfull and Ralph Ziman
Neneh Cherry I've Got You Under My Skin
Special Effects: Pitov
Bart Simpson Do the Bartman
Special Effects: Brad Bird

Tears for Fears

Honored for : Sowing the Seeds of Love
(Special Effects: Jim Blashfield)

Nominations 1990 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Billy Idol Cradle of Love
Special Effects: Peter Moyer
Paula Abdul Opposites Attract
Special Effects: Michael Patterson
Tears for Fears Sowing the Seeds of Love
Special Effects: Jim Blashfield
Billy Joel We Didn't Start the Fire
Special Effects: Chris Blum

Michael Jackson

Honored for : Leave Me Alone
(Special Effects: Jim Blashfield)

Nominations 1989 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Michael Jackson Leave Me Alone
Special Effects: Jim Blashfield
Adrian Belew Oh Daddy
Special Effects: Joey Ahlbum
Prince I Wish U Heaven
Special Effects: Maury Rosenfeld and Fred Raimondi
The Escape Club Wild Wild West
Special Effects: Nicholas Brandt and Bridget Blake-Wilson

Squeeze

Honored for : Hourglass
(Special Effects: Jim Francis and Dave Barton)

Nominations 1988 »

Nominee Nominated Work
INXS Need You Tonight/Mediate
Special Effects: Lynn Maree Milburn
Grateful Dead Touch Of Grey
Special Effects: Gary Gutierrez
George Harrison When We Was Fab
Special Effects: Chris Lyons
Squeeze Hourglass
Special Effects: Jim Francis and Dave Barton
George Harrison Got My Mind Set On You
Special Effects: John McCallum

Peter Gabriel

Honored for : Sledgehammer
(Special Effects: Peter Lord)

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Peter Gabriel Sledgehammer
Special Effects: Peter Lord
Eurythmics Missionary Man
Special Effects: Willy Smax
Genesis Land Of Confusion
Special Effects: Jim Yukich and John Lloyd
Peter Gabriel Big Time
Special Effects: Peter Wallach
Paul Simon The Boy in the Bubble
Special Effects: Jim Blashfield

A-ha

Honored for : Take on Me
(Special Effects: Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger)

Nominations 1986 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Dire Straits Money For Nothing
Special Effects: Ian Pearson
A-ha Take on Me
Special Effects: Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger
X Burning House of Love
Special Effects: Daniel Kleinman
Pat Benatar Sex as a Weapon
Special Effects: Daniel Kleinman and Richard Uber
ZZ Top Rough Boy
Special Effects: Max Anderson and Chris Nibley

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Honored for : Don't Come Around Here No More
(Special Effects: Tony Mitchell, Kathy Dougherty and Peter Cohen)

Nominations 1985 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Bryan Adams Run to You
Special Effects: Cinebuild
Lindsey Buckingham Go Insane
Special Effects: David Yardley
Lindsey Buckingham Slow Dancing
Special Effects: David Yardley
Culture Club It's a Miracle
Special Effects: David Yardley
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Don't Come Around Here No More
Special Effects: Tony Mitchell, Kathy Dougherty and Peter Cohen

Herbie Hancock

Honored for : Rockit
(Special Effects: Godley & Creme)

Nominations 1984 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Herbie Hancock Rockit
Special Effects: Godley & Creme
Talking Heads Burning Down the House
Special Effects: David Byrne and Julia Hayward
The Cars You Might Think
Special Effects: Charlex
Billy Idol Dancing with Myself
Special Effects: Eric Critchley
Thomas Dolby Hyperactive!
Special Effects: David Yardley