Once a visual effects shot is completed and the sequence has been cut together by the director and an editor, the VFX artists will position a rough-animation of a character into the background plate for the director to view and analyze. After the director approves the shot or sequence, more detailed animation work begins. In the case of the characters in STUART LITTLE, this painstaking process moved forward in what is sometimes referred to as a "digital assembly line." The character was built, and in this case, lit, furred, clothed, and fully integrated into the scene of the movie.

Other visual effects work includes digitally painting a sky or ocean or removing the shadow of a crew member who is mistakenly in the shot. Sometimes the weather does not always cooperate when shooting on location. If a production crew has spent many days at a location, and the sequence being shot takes place in real-time, it’s imperative that the background be consistent. For that reason, visual effects artists may be called upon to make the sky bluer - or not.