An oral history recounts the pioneering computer graphics work behind James Cameron's Terminator 2: Judgment Day, released in 1991. Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) developed novel tools and techniques to create the "liquid metal" T-1000, a feat that required significant innovation given the nascent state of CG technology at the time. The film's visual effects team, still a small group at ILM's San Rafael location, built upon earlier successes like Cameron's The Abyss, pushing the boundaries of digital effects.

Key software tools like 'Make Sticky' and 'Body Sock' were developed from scratch. Artists and developers, many with backgrounds in early animation packages such as Alias, collaborated to bring the T-1000 to life. This period saw the hiring of the first "software-only" computer graphics person at ILM, signaling a shift towards dedicated tool development. Technical directors, like those with computer science degrees, played a vital role in rendering and compositing, often writing custom C-shell scripts for frame-by-frame processing that are now standard features in commercial software.

The development process involved overcoming limited computing resources and a steep learning curve for those new to filmmaking. The collaborative environment at ILM, with teams welcoming new members and supporting their growth, was essential. This oral history provides a look into the engineering challenges and creative problem-solving that defined the visual effects for a film that forever impacted the history of CGI.