1️⃣ • Episode I: The Phantom Menace

^ in comparison to earlier shots of the same object…

^ 15 minute 2019 Corridor Crew youtube video: VFX Artists React to THE PREQUELS Bad & Great CGi - at 9 minutes and 33 seconds into the video.

^ 15 minute 2019 Corridor Crew youtube video: VFX Artists React to THE PREQUELS Bad & Great CGi - at 2 minutes and 30 seconds into the video.
 

^ although the Corridor Crew are mistaken when they claim re JarJar: “…this was the first time we had a fully computer generated character… interacting with real actors and having mannerisms…” in the above video:-

The First Fully CGI Character Is Nearly 40 Years Old - And Looks Surprisingly Great - a 2024 ScreenRant article.

or…

What was the first movie to feature a CGI lead character? - a 2022 FarOut article - re Casper (1995 film)

 
Star Wars but only Fode and Beed scenes - a 70 youtube clip of the PodRace announcers’ scenes.

 
WESA Army vs DROID Army - Star Wars: The Phantom Menace - 5 minute youtube video of the Gungans vs Droids

^ an oft-overlooked error in many an early-era CGI character appearance - the eyelines of the human actors not matching those of their latterly-installed CGI counterparts. A simple yet very noticeable occurrence.

^ No, the above image is not from one of the video game tie-ins… or animated series - but from the film itself.

^ No, again, the above image is not from one of the video game tie-ins… or animated series - but from the film itself.

^ In certain scenes it appears Jar Jar resembles a cartoon character from Who Framed Roger Rabbit? than a CGI character in a theatrical film.
 

Jar Jar Binks Tongue Grab - a 30 second clip of Qui-Gon being irritated by Jar Jar’s table manner.

^ No, the above image is not from one of the video game tie-ins… or animated series - but from the film itself.
 

There’s always a bigger fish - a short 90 second youtube clip; the sea creature appearing from 40 seconds onwards…

 
Big Gooberfish - a 3 minute video clip; this sea creature appearing at 2 minutes and 40 seconds into the video.

 
Sebulba Scenes (Ep 1, Clone Wars) - the first 2 mins and 20 seconds of this 3 minute video clip highlight Sebulba not blending into his environment - or backgrounds of the scenes he appears in.

^ CGI Watto does tend to stand out against some of the background scenes in The Phantom Menace… resulting in him looking noticeably more cartoonish or an a creature from an animated series than from a live-action theatrical film.
 

We’ll let fate decide… - 40 second youtube clip of a poorly CGI’d Watto onto a flat looking background.

Yes, the sculpt of Yoda was certainly CPY - made from heavier and very different looking silicone - instead of the Original Trilogy sculpts which were made from latex. And CPY definitely warranted criticism for looking not much like a 30 years younger Yoda.

Yet, instead of reverting back to latex to replace the much abashed silicone CPY from the original TPM film… it was decided to go with a CGI Yoda instead - apparently as George later wanted Yoda to fight Dooku in ATOC and so likely wanted flexibility and uniformity for Yoda’s appearance across the 3 PT films. A pity, as even the replacement CGI Yoda in TPM doesn’t emote or have the magical air, that mysticism, or grace that the latex sculpt used in the Original Trilogy had…

Resulting in another underwhelming CGI fail/shortcoming - or rather the CGI likely not being quite ready to give that OT magic to one of the most important characters in the Prequel films.
 

The PROBLEM with YODA in The Phantom Menace - a 35 second youtube video from Star Wars Update.
 

Some further related info: Interview with Nick Maley (special effects make-up artist on all 4 Yoda’s in the OT) - at yodajeff.com