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| Scene from The Lion King (2019) |
This Friday marks the release of the latest Disney live-action remake. The Lion King reimagines the classic film by turning the animals into fully fleshed out, real-life creatures. Those who have seen the film already praise how convincing it looks, as if marking the next stage of CGI animation. With this presumed milestone coming, it only feels right to look back on some of my favorite animated characters in live-action films from throughout the decades. While there's an off chance that Simba or Mufasa may make this list after the film's release, for now these characters embody how technology can be used to add even more dimension to unbelievable cinematic creations. In the modern era, it's hard to narrow it down. If I forgot one of your favorites, feel free to leave it in the comments.
1. Gollum
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
There have been few moments as important to modern CGI as when Andy Serkis gave a breakout performance in director Peter Jackson's highly acclaimed trilogy. With his performance as Gollum, he created a neurotic character whose stumbling physicality and nasally voice showed the future of motion capture performance. In a series that featured groundbreaking techniques, even almost two decades later, there were few that stood out as Serkis saying "My precious" as he stumbled across a pile of rocks, doing his best to mislead Frodo and Sam into giving him the ring. There had been CGI characters before, but this was one of the few times where it felt like something more, with a personality and motivations all its own. One could argue that there have been better CGI since Gollum, but few have felt as important to the 21st-century film as him.
2. Richard Parker
Life of Pi (2012)
In 2012, director Ang Lee created one of the most visually groundbreaking films of the decade, managing to create a universe full of CGI animals and mystical imagery that blended in a story that was both secular and spiritual. While it's worth noting the many achievements of production house Rhythm & Hues, their defining achievement came with Richard Parker: a Bengal tiger who seemed all too real opposite Suraj Sharma as they floated on the sea. What the team created was something nuanced and able to stand on its own. Richard Parker, unlike most on this list, doesn't talk and avoids humanlike behaviors. Instead, he conveys his energy through the way he walks and stares. It's a subtle form of groundbreaking and one that no studio has been able to capture both in execution and beauty.
3. Caesar
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
Where it seemed like a bad idea when the first promos for Rise of the Planet of the Apes dropped, it was quickly revealed to be one of the most unexpected, best reboots of the 2010s. Not only did it find a way to contemporize the themes of a 50-year-old franchise, but it also pushed technology forward over the course of six years thanks to WETA's ability to explore the facial features of the apes. Again, Andy Serkis creates a powerful performance under the motion capture technology, and War for the Planet of the Apes is a perfect embodiment of how far things have come. Not only does he look convincing, but he also emotes, creating complex emotions and warranting close-ups that aren't embarrassing. Caesar isn't just a great character, the whole cast deserves special recognition for their work. If one series has warranted the need for a motion-capture performance Oscar category, it's this one.
4. T-1000
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Before Peter Jackson brought Middle Earth to breathtaking life, James Cameron was already playing with techniques that are still mind-blowing. Terminator 2 was a sequel that outdid the original in every way, including a villain in the T-1000 who was capable of changing shape. To watch him take shape after being blown apart by a shotgun is one of the cinematic highs of the 1990s, and it's all made better by the stoic performance by Robert Patrick at the middle is still one of the iconic villain performances. When you're capable of taking any shape, what is there to stop you? It's the type of magic that Cameron explored perfectly here. He would come close to this technical achievement 18 years later with Avatar, but it wouldn't compare to how culturally important this moment in film was.
5. T-Rex
Jurassic Park (1993)
There have been few directors as important to the blockbuster genre as Steven Spielberg, and he's rarely achieved the cultural high of Jurassic Park. The film was praised for its ability to use practical effects that have aged better than any of the four sequels in the franchise. It's of course because Spielberg knew how to deliver the spectacle. However, his most beloved element, the T-Rex, was one of the breaks from this where he brought to life the towering force of danger, who would kill you without thinking. Anyone who has seen the film will know the impact of first hearing the T-Rex off in the distance. The only thing greater is when it shows up and yells its mighty roar, establishing himself as an unstoppable force and an icon of CGI the likes of which most dinosaurs have yet to achieve.
6. Rocket Raccoon
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (2017)
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
All things considered, it would be easy to put a dozen Marvel Cinematic Universe characters on this list. Groot, Hulk, or even Ultron all have something in the world of CGI that's compelling. However, the MCU's crowning achievement for this category comes with Rocket Raccoon. Much like Caesar in the Planet of the Apes reboot, his big achievement comes from how well he works as a genuine character. He's snarky, violent, and gets into places others can't. However, he's also capable of conveying the struggles of looking for a family in ways that are emotional. It could just be that the writing is that good, but Rocket is one of the more interesting characters in the franchise, and that's in large part because of how convincing he is at hiding his desire for sympathy underneath crass humor and weapons talk.
7. Bird
Bird People (2014)
No, this is not a gag answer. There's an actual French drama that maybe revolutionized the medium in a very subtle way. The film is predominantly a conventional narrative with human characters talking out their conflicts. However, there's a segment of the film in the second act that eventually cuts to a woman turning into a little sparrow. For the next 10 or so minutes, the film follows the sparrow around France as David Bowie's "Space Oddity" plays. The bird takes us to an airport where it wanders around. Had I not said anything about the bird, there's a good chance that you'd believe it was real. Every movement feels so genuine and the subtle way that it is brought to life is downright memorable. The film is worth watching for this bit alone if just to prove that not all special effects need to be loud and proud to fully work.
8. King Kong
King Kong (2005)
Following the groundbreaking work on Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson had the challenge of changing the game again with his next feature. This involved remaking the 30's masterpiece of monster movies. King Kong was going to be everything that the original couldn't, including an epic scope brought to life with breathtaking special effects. Still, the power of the titular Kong was what made everything work beautifully. He was large and aggressive, but most of all it felt exactly like the real thing. It was sympathetic in all of the right ways, and it's only a bummer that it's not as recognized as much as Gollum. Still, he knows how to entertain tourists on the Universal Studios tram tour, and that's a pretty good way to go.
9. Mothra
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
It may be premature to put Mothra on this list, especially given how messy the film she's in ended up being. However, the Toho icon got a brilliant upgrade this year along with the other Titans of the franchise. Again, it would be easy to put them all on here, but nothing worked better than when Mothra appeared on screen with the excellent music playing her in. It was the monster fight the film promised, and she makes every second count. While the American Toho adaptations haven't quite lived up to the Japanese originals, the visuals are at least beautiful and give hope that one day they'll get it right. Still, the reverence they give Mothra is enough to put her on this list.
10. Elliott
Pete's Dragon (2016)
While there's been plenty to criticize about Disney's CGI live-action characters in recent years, the one exception is Elliott. Even if he looks more fantastical than anything in The Jungle Book, he feels more grounded and real. He fits in a story about a boy going on an adventure with his pet who just so happens to fly. Maybe it's the choice to have indie auteur David Lowery bring a sense of emotional resonance to the story, but it all comes together in a beautiful, tender story that never skimps on the awe as well. As far as Disney films go, this is sadly one that deserves a lot more love than it gets, and it's because of how exciting it is to watch Elliott live in the woods, feeling like the perfect upgrade of a character that was otherwise goofy and hard to take seriously from the original. It's a masterpiece of family entertainment and hopefully, time will be kind to it.
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