Dragons, White Walkers and giants galore — these are the creatures populating the world of "Game of Thrones," but they're not the only reasons why the HBO fantasy epic needs such an expansive effects budget.

As seen in this "Game of Thrones" visual effects reel, it took a whole lot of work to bring Westeros (and Essos) to life in season four. Between the mountain-topped towers of the Vale, the towering Titan of Braavos, the outrageously over-the-top wedding of Joffrey Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell, and beyond, nearly every location and event during season four of "Thrones" required tireless amounts of effects in order to come to life — even if those effects weren't always so obvious.

Watch how Westeros came alive in season four in the video below:

"Game of Thrones" returns next spring for its fifth season.

(via Gizmodo)