How can humans tell that something is ‘off’ when presented with a CGI image that is very close to looking like the real thing? More specifically, why does this effect occur in things like CGI dragons or monsters or [that Sonic](https://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/vulture/2019/05/01/01-sonic-the-hedgehog.w600.h315.2x.jpg), which are obviously not real to start off with?
And why does the ‘uncanny valley’ effect not occur in inanimate objects (for instance, I have never heard of anyone being creeped out by a CGI donut)?
In: Other
I read that the one thing CGI artists have the most problems with are the eyes. You can wear the suit with the blue balls a la Avatar, and get some incredible motion reality, but the eyes are almost always a little creepy. Human eyes have tiny movements that are too hard to mimic properly and they end up looking dead inside. They’re integrating real eyes into filming more and more so the characters don’t get that creepy stoned look like Pixar characters have.
It’s all in the eyes.
Latest Answers