Digital Actors

1. Is this acting or is this animation?

I think the movie Avatar is both acting and animation. The characters of the movie do not come alive without the acting skills of the actors and with the help of computer animation, the makers of this movie were able to add aline-like characteristics to the actors. Director James Cameron incorporated a new technology that combines human actors with computer-generated animation to create the blue, 10-foot-tall creatures who are the heart of the movie. It took great animation skill to ensure that the characters performed exactly as the actors did. The goal was to stay consistent with the emotions created by the actors during the original capture which was what animation as well as acting was for. The very essence of acting was still there but because of the animation used in this movie, the appearance of the actors were enhanced to 10-foot aline-like creatures.

2. Do you think that animated characters should be eligible for acting awards?

I think that animated characters should be eligible for acting awards because the animation of this movie only changes the actors' physical appearance, enhancing them to look like something that's not from this planet but their own acting skill is the same. Animation does not change how one acts. The acting skill of an actor playing a character in the movie is not changed by the computer-generated animation but only enhance their physical appearance so it suits their role for the movie, therefore, their great acting skills should be eligible for awards. 

3. Do you think that human actors will ever become obsolete? Why or why not?

I think that human actors will ever become obsolete because directors still need the great actings skills of an actor to create a successful movie. Although they may be a chance for human actors to lessen and computer-generated animation to increase, I believe that you still need the essence of human actors to create a great movie.“Actors ask me if we’re trying to replace them,” says James Cameron,  “On the contrary, we’re trying to empower them, to give them new methods to express themselves and to create characters, without limitation.  I believe animation will be used more to enhance physical appearances of actors and to help express themselves but human actors will still be needed to bring life to the characters in a movie therefore, i do not think human actors will ever be obsolete.