Will 3D Animation Replace Actors?
According to The Movie Blog, Rob Cohen, director of 1993’s Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, has plans to create a new movie entitled Rage and Fury that will feature an entirely photo-realistic Bruce Lee with new, advanced digital technology. So the question begs: are we far away from an age where 3D animation techniques can create lifelike and believable television and movie stars? And if so, are these creative renderings enough to satisfy the public’s urge for the marketability of a human “star”? This debate is all the rage in animation think tanks all across the Internet.
3D Animation Actors: Cases in Point
- S1mOne. In the movie S1m0ne, Al Pacino’s character creates a cgi woman to replace a difficult diva. The only problem is that she doesn’t exist.
- Final Fantasy. This movie didn’t hit it big at the box office, but it’s use of realistic cgi people makes a strong case for the advancements in 3D animation.
- Titanic. During the panoramic shots of the sinking ship, all of the panicked people moving across the deck are entirely computer generated. Although it is a wide shot, this technology is quite unique and very lifelike.
3D animation student and budding professional Kara Lawrence tackled the issue of 3D animation and human actors in an essay published in a graphic design forum. Here are some of the reasons why she believes this concept is far from actualization.
Flash Animation and the Dating Game
- Process Complexes. In 3D animation, the computer doesn’t do all of the work. The animation pro must work within the confines of the system to being their hand drawn characters to life. This is not an easy task.
- The Human Factor. The movie going public will miss seeing their favorite stars walking down the red carpet to awards ceremonies and high brow parties.
- Acting is a Skill. A 3D animation figure can’t do what actors do. They can’t improvise, shoot from the hip, or perform any other skills that humans are capable of.
For now, it seems as though actors have nothing to worry about. In fact, the addition of 3D animation techniques will only enhance the creativity and capability of movie makers across the board.
Sources
Bruce Lee to Star in a NEW Movie!
Virtual Actors
Virtual Fear - (PDF)
