An explosion produces snarling flames and a thick, giant cloud of dirt.

These vivid special movie effects were created by computer graphics.

A Korean-American computer scientist developed a technology that makes smoke and fire visual effects in movies far more realistic. Math formulas are used for creating thousands of delicate graphic scenes.

The developer is Theodore Kim, an assistant media arts and technology professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Developed in 2008, the technology has been used for 26 Hollywood films.

Kim is the winner of this year’s Academy Award for technical achievement. He plans to develop visual effect techniques related to waves, earthquakes and tsunamis. Kim also expressed his hope to work with South Koreans in the movie industry.