Uncanny Valley

http://journal.animationstudies.org/2009/07/16/matthew-butler-lucie-joschko-final-fantasy-or-the-incredibles/#more-70

In my research I have been looking at an article about making an animated film (or short cinematics in games) too realistic, and how people enjoy watching films where the characters don't look real, but the way they move is realistic for example, so they are believable. Whereas some people say if you make things too real, you may as well take a photograph. This is a theory called uncanny valley by Masahiro Mori. In the article it says ' In this theory Mori perceived a phenomenon whereby the more lifelike a robot becomes, the more likeable they are, but only up to a point. Once they become too lifelike a sense of unease forms, frightening or repulsing us. ' 

The examples used are the final fantasy film (where they focussed too much on making the graphics look amazing and seeing how real they can make it all look, and it ended up having a rubbish storyline ) and the incredibles movie (doesn't look real, but you can relate to the characters and their feelings are believable)


Here is the diagram used in the article which shows what I am trying to explain quite well

I think that this graph explains things well as well. It uses the animated film the Polar Express as an example of making something really realistic, and the cubo robot that was made. The robot looks quite frightening in a way rather than making you impressed at it.