To refresh your memory, the uncanny valley is "phenomenon whereby a computer-generated figure or humanoid robot bearing a near-identical resemblance to a human being arouses a sense of unease or revulsion in the person viewing it". However, just because a film or game uses large amounts of CGI and animated characters, it doesn't mean it is bound for failure. Several films have been able to successfully avoid the uncanny valley, despite having entirely computer generated characters, such as Avatar and the Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
But how did these films do it?
One common way films have avoided the uncanny valley is to make their characters our of proportion, or just barely nonhuman-like, as showed in the Na'i in Avatar. The Na'vi, while using similar technology that led Mars Needs Moms to failure, were beautifully created, visually stunning, and most importantly, extremely disproportional and blue. Their extreme height, blue skin and lack of fingers, make these humanoid creatures JUST nonhuman enough to avoid the valley. Many other films have avoided the uncanny valley this way successfully, such as Pirates of the Caribbean.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, on the other hand, was a huge achievement for CGI. While being computer generated, Brad Pitt is able to avoid the uncanny valley by specifically targeting areas that bring most CGI characters into the valley, specifically the eyes and mouth. By removing the awkwardness and giving it more life-like visuals, Benjamin Button is a rare example of a human CGI character being able to avoid the uncanny valley.
As CGI and technology advances, less and less films should fall victim to the uncanny valley.
1 comment:
I really like the way you pulled in different films that show examples of the uncanny valley issue. You included a numerous amount of films that perfectly depict the comfort zone we have for human like robots. Just as the uncanny valley theory describes, humans can only tolerate human like robots to a certain point before they become unsettled. You mentioned the film industry avoiding this uncanny valley and for what reason. Some films have LOST money due to frighteningly similar human looking robots or characters.
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