Officially Cool: Freakishly Realistic Animation

Posted by Brian C. Gibson (brian@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 22, 2008

Officially Cool

Everyone will argue about the quality of computer animation, especially the computer animated humans, til they are blue in the face. Some people say that humans that are animated should be merely caricatures of humans, not mirror replicas. Even when Polar Express came out, people were stunned with the animation but still heavily criticized the soul-less look of the characters eyes. Then came Beowulf, another film that shocked audiences with the animated versions of Anthony Hopkins and Angelina Jolie. This is a video explaining the visual effects company, Image Metrics. Watch, and I will catch you after the video…

So did you catch that? “Emily” is the freakishly realistic animated human. I’m sure you caught it eventually, but I will admit that I couldn’t tell at first.

Sound Off: Do you think that animating humans defeats the whole purpose of animation?

Source: Thompson on Hollywood

If you have any suggestions for our Officially Cool feature, please send an email over to brian@filmschoolrejects.com.


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  • It's very impressive, but there's something WESTWORLD-ey about it. It sort of gives me the same feeling I used to get when I would go to Chuck E. Cheese Pizza and imagine the animatronic animals were going to come to life and slaughter all of the kids.

    Disturbed childhood. I had it. And one thing that didn't help at all was the demon animatronic animals at Chuck E. Cheese.
  • that was pretty freaky, but i still just don't see the point.
  • Vin
    In Soviet Russia, computer animate you!
  • Yes! We're bringing back Yakov Smirnov humor? I'm on board.

    Er, I mean, in Soviet Russia, board is on me!
  • Keith
    There is nothing artistic about it.
  • That video was a good demonstration. Guests being interviewed on T.V, especially the news, look robotic. I like how the artists got around the weird eye problem computer animation has. People on T.V are always staring in one direction and smiling because they're reading cue cards or they prepared their answers beforehand.

    I also got a "Blade Runner" vibe when watching it. If it was a HD video clip, I think it would be harder to tell she was a replicant.
  • I think it could make those action movies with fake CGI look better. Then we could have two kinds of action movies. The other being those using practical effects.
  • Wilhelm Scream
    Methinks Vin has stumbled here from the AV Club boards.
  • looks good, but still looks simulated a bit (and in a very controlled environment with lighting). I'd be curious to see full movement.

    Still in the uncanny valley, but seems to be climbing out of it at least.
  • I had a whole big response typed out, but instead, just tune into boiling point this coming Monday for my thoughts.
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