The role of computer animation and performance in the creation of hybrid characters such as Gollum and King Kong

This thesis focuses on how animation is combined with the performance of real actors to create believable character performances within live action cinema. It was found that many factors culminate in creating believable synthespian¹ characters in a film, including the depiction of a believable reality and the breaking up and manipulation of performances. Many professionals from a range of specialties take part in the process of creating successful synthespians during each stage of production. I explore how different elements are used to create believable characters by drawing on theories of how reality is created in cinema and how performances are created in live action and in animation. This thesis includes two case studies of such characters which shows examples of how new techniques are used and how successful they are. These studies demonstrate that successful believable and compelling performances by synthespians can be created when actors and animators employ good acting techniques and that new ways of delivering a performance have been created whereby multiple takes of a scene are created in different ways to be recombined and manipulated for the end result on screen.

¹ _{Encarta® World English Dictionary defines synthespian as an actor used in animation: a digital image of a person created by a precise full-body scan and used by animators to produce animated characters or films. Encarta® World English Dictionary. URL (accessed on 10 Jan 08): [http://ca.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_56l537865/synthespian.html]}