Superman‘s VFX supervisor opened up about some of the challenges faced during production and how director James Gunn’s dog became a star. Superman has officially launched the DCU under Gunn, with David Corenswet starring as the iconic superhero, to much success. Earning positive reviews for its fresh take on the Man of Steel, Superman has soared at the box office.
However, among the film’s many surprises, one unlikely star has stolen the spotlight: Krypto the Superdog. While longtime DC fans are familiar with Superman’s canine companion from comics and animated TV shows, the live-action version in 2025’s Superman movie is chaotic, untamed, and brimming with personality. Interestingly, the reason for Krypto’s authenticity is that inspiration came from a personal source.
In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Joe Deceklmeier, VFX supervisor Guy Williams shared insight into the making of Krypto, detailing the process of bringing the superpowered dog to the big screen. Williams said that “James [Gunn] is an animal lover,” recalling the director’s compᴀssion for semi-wild dogs on Panama’s streets while filming The Suicide Squad. Williams explained how this affected Krypto’s origins:
EXCLUSIVE: Take that person and make a movie about a superpowered dog. The dog is based on one of his own pets that’s a rescue animal. And [James is] very specific. He knows exactly who Krypto is. He knows how Krypto thinks, [and] how Krypto moves.
Williams then talked about the meticulous process of figuring out how to make Krypto fly. According to the VFX supervisor, the animators “did a run cycle in the air,” but it was “the too-obvious answer.” Instead, they brainstormed various methods before settling on the flying pose seen in Superman. Check out Williams’ full breakdown of Krypto’s flight below:
We had a lot of Krypto flying, and we’re trying to figure out, “What does it look like when a dog flies?” Because dogs don’t fly. And at first, you know, the animators did a run cycle in the air, and it was just kind of the too-obvious answer. James had us pull it back, so we kept pulling it back more and more and more until eventually, he’s almost like Superman. We find out what his flying pose is, and when he’s flying, he’s kind of in that pose. Then we would drop in like 10% of the [dog behavior.] When he would take a turn, he might use his legs to bound off an invisible rock.
What Guy Williams’ Comments Mean For Superman’s Krypto
The reason Gunn knows Superman‘s Krypto so well is because of his own pet, with Williams even describing Krypto as “a white version of Ozu, which is James’ dog.” However, there are key differences, as Williams points out: “It’s a superpowered dog. It can’t talk, and, hell, it’s not trained at all. It’s the most disobedient animal in the world.“
However, the integration of something personal into Krypto makes the character more compelling. Superman‘s superpowered dog isn’t just comic relief; he’s one of the film’s emotional cornerstones. Instead of depicting Krypto as hyper-loyal or cartoonishly perfect, Superman leans into a grounded and chaotic version, making him a fully fledged character befitting of James Gunn’s realistic superhero fantasy world.
Our Take On Krypto The Superdog
Krypto the Superdog was a bold addition by Gunn in his 2025 Superman movie, as the concept is quite corny. However, Krypto’s inclusion actually plays very well in the film. Gunn managed to turn the deep-cut DC character into a well-loved personality and one of the film’s standout elements, instead of just a cutesy gimmick.
By basing him on his own rescue dog, Gunn infused Krypto with a sense of personality and chaos, which makes him feel authentic. From his physical animation to the way he flies, Krypto feels unpredictable yet sincere, embodying the imperfect heroism at the core of Gunn’s vision. It’s a risky move which, surprisingly, paid off quite beautifully in Superman.
