Outline for the Third Term Paper

Introduction

a)      Creature effects animation is a common feature of contemporary movies, and a form of special effects widely used in two of the highest-grossing film series of all time: Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.

b)      For this paper, I will focus specifically in the characters of Dobby and Gollum as they are two very similar characters in their appearance and actions.

Harry Potter

a)      Dobby created using a combination of computer animation and models

1.       Stand-in actors or objects were used during filming when Dobby would be computer generated

2.       Stand-ins were used for character placement, but actions were not used for animation

b)      Many models used in the making of Harry Potter creature effects

1.       Models used when a creature would be in a scene with limited or no animation

                                            I.            Full-body model of Dobby after being stabbed for Daniel Radcliffe to hold

                                          II.            A full-scale robotic model of Buckbeak the Hippogriff for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

2.       Occasionally creature effects were a combination of models and CGI in one shot

                                            I.            Multiple versions of Dobby’s head were modeled

                                          II.            The fire-breathing dragons in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – For the scene where the dragons were in cages, the heads were models with built-in flame throwers and the rest of the bodies CGI

3.       I visited the Harry Potter Studios in London over the summer and was able to tour the “creature lab” where the film models were on display

                                            I.            Including the real models of Dobby!

Lord of the Rings

a)      Gollum a combination of live action and computer animation

1.       Motion Capture

b)      Andy Serkis played Gollum

1.       While the character we see on screen is completely CGI, its movements are based on Serkis’ face and acting choices

2.       Gollum’s actions were a combination of traditional animation and rotoscoping based on Serkis

                                               I.            Rotoscope: When an actor’s motion is copied frame-by-frame in animation, can potentially feel stiff and boring when not paired with traditional animation

                                             II.            Example: Jim Carrey’s A Christmas Carol 

3.       Gollum’s voice is done by Serkis

c)       Animators “pushed” Serkis’ acting to better fit the character

                                I.            This video with a side-by-side comparison of Serkis acting and the final Gollum animation shows how the animators mostly followed his movements and facial expressions, but in some cases added more movement or exaggerated a motion

                              II.            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbW-Zv_kR5Q

                            III.            This combination keeps Gollum feeling real rather than like bad rotoscope

Comparison

a)      Each of these films is successful in their character effects
      1.       Both films contain a multitude of characters that needed to be created with special effects and animation – films would not have been successful if they didn’t have an amazing special effects team
      2.       Dobby and Gollum are both extremely important characters to their respective plotlines and are characters that the audience really connects with

                                I.            Connection to audience shows success of special effects

                               II.            Entire theater cheers for Dobby's successes, such as his freedoom from servitude with the Malfoys, and cries over his death