[joeld42]

I've worked in the visual effects industry and I don't think this is CGI, at least not in the sense that most commenters mean, a digital rendering of the dude and the wings. If it is, there's a lot of small details that they got right. It could be, and the poor quality of the video makes it hard to tell for sure, but I think that's misdirection.

My guess is that the wings are not mechanical at all beyond being flexible, and he's just pulling on them to flap, and they pulled the guy from an ATV or something. His motion looks like a kite, when he's flapping wildly the front of his chest stays pretty stable and looks like it's anchored. The wings look like they could be modified versions of those kite-surfing things people use.

It's a hell of a lot easier to paint out a wire and a vehicle than it is to put in a synthetic flying dude. and that would get you the helmet-cam footage without having to do extra work.

Also there's tire tracks on the ground from previous takes.

edit: for example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvD_0qZzhdo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKlaRtCwIqk

It might not even be the wings providing the lift, he could have a whole chute behind it like in these videos.

[marshray]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH3fQbGlQlM#t=52s

Look at the left tip on the mechanism as it moves slowly as the woman holds it.

I know it's supposed to be light, but it appears to jitter as if it's massless.

The lighting on the mecanism doesn't seem so right either. This looks a little like the early Star Wars' to me.

[Lazare]

Agreed. The editing and camera angles make it seem fake, but it doesn't look rendered. And, honestly...I think it's too bad to be rendered. The motion is just too artificial.

My money is on this being done with wires and some basic rotoscoping, not CGI. Everything fits.

[andrewfelix]

Here's a much rougher version (skip to 1.45) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0tKFOcHyrI&feature=relmf...

Notice the camera pans down as it transitions to what is clearly an animation.