Abstract

Animation and special-effects studios today are making increasing use of motion capture, computer-generated imagery (CGI), and digital puppetry in television, theatre, commercial films, and videogames. As CGI grows ever-more capable and pliant, it is not only changing the way in which actors and puppets appear in various media, it is enabling animated characters to perform like puppets and vice versa. Actors are controlling cartoon characters, while visual-effects teams are seamlessly mingling objects with images, blurring the lines between acting, animation, puppetry, and special effects.