1: Scrat (Ice Age)
This loveable critter graces many bedrooms in the form of a cuddly toy of some sort. He owes his popularity to the artists who created his character. In design he is classically cute – with big eyes, stubby limbs, a twitchy nose and a big bushy tail. This was interpreted brilliantly by the modellers and renderers, then brought to twitchy life by the animation teams. He also demonstrates how props can be used to bring out character. Scrat is rarely seen without his precious acorn, and his small plotlines revolve around it. All this creates a very loveable character which appeals to everyone.
2: Sully (Monsters Inc.)
Though not technically an animal, Sully is none the less a big furry critter with a lot of personality. He was a technical revolution in that he was one of the first movie characters to use fur effects. I imagine many of the geniuses who developed the fur and hair tools lost a lot of their own in the process. Big and cuddly in design, he is a big teddy bear that children loved. His movements are big, slow and clumsy which is an endearing quality that contrasts with his bright and caring nature. A good realisation of an unusual concept makes Sully an unforgettable character.
3: Tank Evans (Surf’s Up.)
Most stories require a villain, or in the case of Surf’s Up – a big meanie. It’s difficult to choose between the characters in this movie, as they are all so unique and cleverly done. However, for me, tank is a fantastic villain. Happiness and sadness and pretty basic emotions in a CG character, but more subtle traits like arrogance and machismo are far more difficult to portray. Tank carries them off perfectly. Every part of his design is meant to emphasize the proud bully that is Tank, obsessed with winning and with no regard to anyone but himself (and his suspicious attachment to his trophies.) Tank is a perfect bad guy for the movie, and though you love to hate him he’s a very memorable character.
4: Puss in Boots (Shrek 2.)
Puss in boots is especially relevant to me on this project. He is a very good example of a characterised cat, and has a lot of personality that owes a lot to the voice of Antonio Banderas. His most charming aspect is the way he is a pint sized hero, brave and fearless, but still lapses into becoming entranced by dangling objects he can swipe at. He is a cat in every way.
5: King Julian (Madagascar.)
This cheeky chappy was the real star of Madagascar. Ok the penguins were cool too but we’ve already had one of those. One could have cut the rest of the film out and just had a 15 minute short about partying lemurs.
The lemur rendition of “Move it” was a stroke of sheer brilliance, and has probably exceeded the popularity of the original. This party animal behaviour is clearly expressed through Julian. His wide range of facial expression and lanky but energetic gait is augmented by Sasha Baron Cohen’s voice acting.
Julian was one of the few characters who really made an otherwise unimaginative film well worth watching.
6: Boog (Open Season.)
Boog is so endearing because he is such a paradox of form and personality. Though he is a fully grown grizzly bear who looks like he has a mean streak in there somewhere, he is in fact a gentle and domesticated animal. If this wasn’t evident enough he carries a tiny cuddly bear backpack – full of animal cracker treats. His movements and mannerisms are clearly based on real grizzlies, even though the model and fur effects are highly stylised. It’s easy to identify with him, and though he looks tough he is a vulnerable and dependant animal who has to find his place in the tough wild world. It’s this contrast that I think makes him such a great example of a CG animal.
7: The Famous Grouse.
Though perhaps not as big screen as the other characters listed here, I feel he is worthy of mention nonetheless. What I like about this character is that he seems to have grown into his role over time. When he first hit the TV screens, he was seen wandering around the scene, seemingly disorientated as if nobody was sure what he was doing there. It was almost as if they had put a real grouse on a white stage and just let it do whatever. Now in the most recent ads, he is seen with a bottle of the whiskey with an affectionate wing around it. I like this evolution of purpose. Aside from this I like his awkwardness and dizzy movements, he is a very well characterised bird brain.
These are excellent examples of CG animals, and show how artists bring out character through their designs and animations.
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