Squid Game Season 3 Features The Most Awkward Special Effect In The Show’s History

by

Contains spoilers for “Squid Game” Season 3

As a gamer, I can relate to the complexities of a situation, just like Kim Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri) discovered during her brief journey with her nameless daughter in “Squid Game” Season 3. Fortunately, when labor struck during the second game, I was fortunate enough to have a caring maternal figure, Jang Geum-ja (Kang Ae-sim), by my side. Geum-ja assisted in the delivery, with Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon) looking on, and thankfully, everything turned out as smoothly as possible – considering the challenging circumstances we found ourselves in.

Geum-ja’s dedication to her baby’s life is absolute, going as far as taking her son’s life when he intended to do the same in a game. This act of devotion later leads to Geum-ja’s suicide in the dormitories, and ultimately inspires Jun-hee to selflessly give up her life during the jump rope game to secure her daughter’s future. Aware that her injured ankle would make a safe escape unlikely, Jun-hee chooses to make the ultimate sacrifice for her child.

The scenery is both stunning and heartbreaking, yet it’s challenging not to notice the artificial element when the baby is on screen, as it’s glaringly apparent that part of the child has been digitally created. While some instances with the girl are convincing, there are close-ups where it’s clear they superimposed a real child’s face onto a doll. This takes away from moments meant to be intense, instead causing a sense of discomfort and taking focus away from one of Season 3’s most moving narratives.

Using GCI for the baby’s face is an odd choice

It makes sense that they might resort to a fake or digitally created baby during the birth scene due to the potentially hazardous conditions and extensive hours needed for filming. However, it’s perplexing why they opted for CGI even in simpler shots. The close-ups of the child in Episodes 3, 4, and 5 appear undeniably computer-generated. Employing a real baby instead would have been an effortless choice and could have enhanced the overall viewing experience significantly.

In my perspective as a fan, the act of superimposing a CGI face on what seems to be a doll creates an unsettling resemblance to the uncanny valley in numerous instances. And let me tell you, the baby’s movements in this production are oddly synthetic, reminding me of a rubber chicken during a comedy routine. It may not reach the level of annoyance found in the numerous plot holes of “Squid Game,” but it certainly detracts from the experience. The CGI baby in this production is much like the one in “Twilight: Breaking Dawn,” pulling viewers out of the story at crucial moments, particularly during poignant scenes like Kim Jun-hee’s suicide, where the baby is shown crying alone in a flowerbox after she has been rescued.

Why does Squid Game Season 3 have a CGI baby?

As a devoted viewer, it’s fascinating to ponder why the creators of “Squid Game” opted for a fake baby over a real one. One plausible reason is safety concerns, especially considering that some scenes could potentially pose health risks to infants. For instance, during the production of Season 2, the six-legged pentathlon game made even adult actors ill. As Lee Byung-hun shared with TheWrap, “The set was completely filled with dust every time a group did a run around, and it was hard to breathe.” This was echoed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the writer, director, and creator, who mentioned that everyone involved got sick during filming, including himself. It took over two weeks to complete this scene. Given these hazardous conditions, it’s understandable why a real baby wouldn’t be suitable for such production.

One possible reason for opting for a computer-generated image (CGI) baby instead of a real one in productions like “Squid Game” could be the stringent child labor laws in South Korea. These rules restrict children under 15 from working more than 35 hours weekly, and there are speculations that regulations on younger children’s employment might become even stricter. In February 2025, a new law was proposed that would cap work hours for those under nine at 30 hours per week, with a daily limit of 6 hours. Given the extensive nature of a major TV series like “Squid Game,” using CGI is often considered the most secure option, despite any potential awkwardness in appearance.

Read More

2025-06-27 17:30