Short answers, pulled from the story.
Oscar Rejlander created the world's first special effects image by combining different sections of 32 negatives into a single picture. This montaged combination print marked the beginning of visual manipulation in photography.
Georges Méliès directed the Théâtre Robert-Houdin and developed over 500 short films between 1896 and 1913. He invented techniques such as multiple exposures, time-lapse photography, dissolves, and hand-painted color during this period.
The final composite video appeared on his YouTube channel Alphacat on the 4th of May 2011. An actor like Iman Crosson demonstrated this technique in self-produced videos where he impersonated Barack Obama appearing outside the White House East Room.
Motion capture refers to recording the movement of objects or people for various applications including military entertainment sports and medical uses. Match moving allows insertion of computer graphics into live-action footage with correct position scale orientation and motion relative to photographed objects.
Pixomondo Moving Picture Company Animal Logic Reel FX Animation Sony Pictures Imageworks and Jellyfish Pictures also operate within the industry. Visual effects companies collaborate across pre-production planning phases to ensure seamless execution during filming.