“Shōgun” invites endless comparisons to “Game of Thrones.” Much like Westeros, the series predominantly stages its conflicts through dialogue rather than swordplay. Language emerges as a prominent theme, contrasting strict Japanese decorum even among adversaries with the brutal physical violence they inflict upon each other. Even the conclusion of “Shōgun” surprises by eschewing an expected epic battle for an anti-climactic resolution.

When battles do occur, they are as gruesome as one might anticipate from Samurai clashes. For instance, in Episode 4, “The Eightfold Fence,” a group of soldiers faces an ambush from cannonballs, resulting in horrific scenes of men and horses collapsing into pools of blood and gore. This visual effect was achieved using CG, overseen by Refuge VFX from Portland, Oregon, among six other VFX firms contracted for the series.

Michael Cliett, the series’ VFX supervisor, emphasized a commitment to invisible VFX on “Shōgun,” enhancing the authenticity of physical spaces and sets crafted by production designer Helen Jarvis and her team. This approach avoids over-reliance on green screens for recreating historical Japanese cities and villages. The CG effects in “Shōgun” are employed to heighten realism rather than to draw attention to themselves.

During a Reddit AMA, Cliett discussed several particularly graphic VFX scenes, noting instances where practical effects were used instead of digital ones.