History Main / SerkisFolk

** Ares's final form in ''Film/WonderWoman2017'' is created this way, with only [[spoiler:Creator/DavidThewlis]]'s head being retained. The effect is somewhat [[{{Narm}} less than successful]].

* The dance choreography for ''VideoGame/Persona4DancingAllNight'' and [[VideoGame/Persona3DancingMoonNight others in]] [[VideoGame/Persona5DancingStarNight the series]] are animated using motion capture.

* Two-Face's scarring received this treatment in ''Film/TheDarkKnight''. The logic was they wanted to have his face ''taken away'', and traditional make-up can only add to it.

This is name after Creator/AndySerkis, who was transformed by CGI wizardry into the characters of Gollum (from ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' and ''Film/TheHobbit'') and [[Film/KingKong2005 King Kong]] for [[Creator/PeterJackson Peter Jackson's]] films. The story goes that Jackson planned for Gollum to be entirely computer-generated, but was so impressed by Serkis's mannerisms and facial expressions that he decided they just had to capture it somehow. The trope name is a spin on the phrase "circus folk".

Named after the actor Creator/AndySerkis, who was transformed by CGI wizardry into the characters of Gollum (from ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' and ''Film/TheHobbit'') and [[Film/KingKong2005 King Kong]] for [[Creator/PeterJackson Peter Jackson's]] films. The story goes that Jackson planned for Gollum to be entirely computer-generated, but was so impressed by Serkis's mannerisms and facial expressions that he decided they just had to capture it somehow. The trope name is a spin on the phrase "circus folk".

* Actors:
** Creator/AndySerkis is the TropeNamer, while providing the page image with his portrayal of Gollum in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings''. The team was aware of the UncannyValley effect, and used it to their advantage, the character was ''supposed'' to look dead-eyed and soulless. In addition to Gollum, Andy Serkis portrayed Film/KingKong in [[Film/KingKong2005 2005 remake]] (as well as the live-action character Lumpy), and an intelligent chimp named Caesar in ''Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' and ''Film/DawnOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' (which also feature motion capture gorillas, orangutans and bonobos in addition to chimpanzees). He now specializes in this form of acting, even founding his own studio, The Imaginarium, which provides MotionCapture expertise to film and TV productions.
** Creator/DougJones is known for both this and being in [[PeopleInRubberSuits full body suits]]. ''Film/FantasticFourRiseOfTheSilverSurfer'' is particularly notable for having him performing as a depowered Surfer in a practical costume.

* Dobby and Kreacher from ''Film/HarryPotter'' (in [[Film/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows the seventh film]], they even decided to put stand-ins in the set instead of having actors acting with the empty).

** Creator/DougJones is known for both this and being in full body suits. ''Film/FantasticFourRiseOfTheSilverSurfer'' is particularly notable for having him performing as a depowered Surfer in a practical costume.

* As opposed to the [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles original films']] usage of animatronics, ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2014'' uses MotionCapture for the turtles, as well as Splinter and the Shredder's PoweredArmor. The turtle’s Mocap suits had the addition of what looked like couch cushions stuck to the back, though.
* The ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'' franchise gradually switched to using this method to portray the skeleton puppets, which was typically done practically before. ''Film/Terminator3RiseOfTheMachines'' rendered it's main villain entirely, although the liquid metal effect for the T-1000 in ''Film/Terminator2'' was a forerunner to A LOT of these effects.

* Creator/RobertZemeckis has directed three films with all-Serkis Folk casts: ''WesternAnimation/ThePolarExpress'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Beowulf 2007}}'' (especially Grendel), and ''WesternAnimation/AChristmasCarol2009''. He also produced the Serkis Folk-starring ''WesternAnimation/MonsterHouse'' and ''WesternAnimation/MarsNeedsMoms''. At least two of these films feature examples where actors are Serkused to the point where they're unrecognizable. The lead character in ''Beowulf'', depicted as a muscular superhero, was played by the heavyset, 50-something character actor Creator/RayWinstone; in ''Polar Express'', Creator/TomHanks played several characters, one of which was a young boy; while in ''A Christmas Carol'', Creator/GaryOldman was able to portray Bob Cratchit and the ghost of Jacob Marley, and Creator/JimCarrey played the three Ghosts of Christmas, in addition to Scrooge at various ages (including as a child). ''Beowulf'' also provides a case of Serkusing and InkSuitActor: Creator/AngelinaJolie was pregnant when she shot the film, but was able to appear in a nude scene thanks to being (otherwise photo-accurately) Serkused. The same can also (shudder) be said of Anthony Hopkins in the same film.
** [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Anthony Hopkins was PREGNANT?!]]

* The Franchise/{{Terminator}} franchise gradually switched to using this method to portray the skeleton puppets, which was typically done practically before. Film/Terminator3RiseOfTheMachines rendered it's main villain entirely, although the liquid metal effect for the T-1000 in ''Film/Terminator2JudgementDay'' was a forerunner to A LOT of these effects.

See also InkSuitActor, TwoDVisualsThreeDEffects, DoubleVision and StarringSpecialEffects. Also, see DigitalDeAging, where similar technology is used to take years off of an actor's face. Compare RogerRabbitEffect, where the character is created with traditional animation.

** ComicBook/{{Cyborg}} was crafted using Creator/RayFisher's performance capture on set, which included a movable headpiece to render the glow from his one mechanical eye. Given the TroubledProduction of the movie, it's an interesting sight to see where it is [[SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome rendered perfectly]] versus when [[OffModel it was sloppily thrown together]].

* Colossus is entirely CG in the ''Film/{{Deadpool 2016}}'' movie, which allows for a much more comic-accurate appearance than he had in the previous films in the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'' (where he was played by a real actor until he armored up, Colossus here was always armored). {{Lampshaded}} in the opening credits, where he's billed as "A CGI character." [[Film/{{Deadpool 2}} The sequel]] adds [[spoiler: the Juggernaut]], another computer-generated character who looks more like his comic counterpart than he did in his [[Film/XMenTheLastStand last movie appearance]].

** All of the alien "prawns" in ''Film/{{District 9}}''.

See also InkSuitActor, ConspicuousCG, DoubleVision and StarringSpecialEffects. Also, see DigitalDeAging, where similar technology is used to take years off of an actor's face. Compare RogerRabbitEffect, where the character is created with traditional animation.

* At least a few of the ConspicuousCGI characters in ''Film/{{Immortal}}''.

* The games of David Cage and his studio Creator/QuanticDream are created almost entirely this way. In addition, Cage frequently has his characters be {{InkSuitActor}}s of the those playing them.

* All of the alien "prawns" in ''Film/{{District 9}}''.

* Creator/RobertZemeckis has directed three films with all-Serkis Folk casts: ''WesternAnimation/ThePolarExpress'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Beowulf 2007}}'' (especially Grendel), and ''WesternAnimation/AChristmasCarol2009''. He also produced the Serkis Folk-starring ''WesternAnimation/MonsterHouse'' and ''WesternAnimation/MarsNeedsMoms''. At least two of these films feature examples where actors are Serkused to the point where they're unrecognizable. The lead character in ''Beowulf'', depicted as a muscular superhero, was played by a 50-something character actor; in Polar Express, Tom Hanks played several characters, one of which was a young boy, while in the Christmas Carol, Gary Oldman was able to portray Bob Cratchit and the ghost of Jacob Marley. ''Beowulf'' also provides a case of Serkusing and InkSuitActor: Creator/AngelinaJolie was pregnant when she shot the film, but was able to appear in a nude scene thanks to being (otherwise photo-accurately) Serkused. The same can also (shudder) be said of Anthony Hopkins in the same film.

[[quoteright:350:[[Film/TheLordOfTheRings https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/SerkisPeople_4854.jpg]]]]

Historically, this originated from performance models used for reference or outright {{Rotoscoping}}. Technique and technology evolves, though, and the production may use different methods to achieve the same effect. An actor can be simply in a green suit to be used as reference points for other actors, the actor may wear a modified suit with reference dots on all joints so the VFX artists can recreate their unique performance or there may be a [[TechnologyPorn real time performance suit, a facial capture headset and several dozen cameras set up in order to create a virtual set]]. Any method can land in the UncannyValley if the CGI overlay doesn't work, [[TropesAreTools or]] [[StylisticSuck if it wasn't meant to work]].

** Doomsday in ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' was actually voiced and performance captured by Creator/RobinAtkinsDownes.
** ComicBook/{{Cyborg}} was crafted using Creator/RayFisher's performance capture on set, which included a movable headpiece to render the glow from his one mechanical eye. Given the TroubledProduction of the movie, it's an interesting sight to see where it is [[VisualEffectsOfAwesome rendered perfectly]] versus when [[OffModel it was sloppily thrown together]].

* Film/DCExtendedUniverse

* * The Comicbook/IncredibleHulk in [[Film/{{Hulk}} both]] [[Film/TheIncredibleHulk movies]] (in the first one, director Ang Lee himself provided the motion capture), and also in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', with motion capture provided by Banner's actor Creator/MarkRuffalo. Serkis actually worked with Ruffalo on his performance in the sequel ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron''. Funnily enough, Serkis plays Ulysses Klaue, who is ''not'' a CG creation. ''Age of Ultron'' also has Creator/JamesSpader using this technique to portray the [[ComicBook/{{Ultron}} titular villain]].

This can land in the UncannyValley if the CGI overlay doesn't quite work, [[TropesAreTools or]] [[StylisticSuck if it wasn't meant to work]].

See also InkSuitActor, ConspicuousCG, StarringSpecialEffects, and {{Rotoscoping}}. Also, see DigitalDeAging, where similar technology is used to take years off of an actor's face. Contrast RogerRabbitEffect, where the character is created with traditional animation.

* ''Anime/FinalFantasyTheSpiritsWithin'': Everyone. There are even cases of [[ActingForTwo mo-capping for two]].

* Creator/AndySerkis is the TropeNamer, while providing the page image with his portrayal of Gollum in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings''. The team was aware of the UncannyValley effect, and used it to their advantage: the character was ''supposed'' to look dead-eyed and soulless.
* In addition to Gollum, Andy Serkis portrayed Film/KingKong in [[Film/KingKong2005 2005 remake]] (as well as the live-action character Lumpy), and an intelligent chimp named Caesar in ''Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' and ''Film/DawnOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' (which also feature motion capture gorillas, orangutans and bonobos in addition to chimpanzees). He now specializes in this form of acting, even founding his own studio, The Imaginarium, which provides MotionCapture expertise to film and TV productions.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'' features a number of examples:
** Jar Jar Binks in ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'' was [[TropeMaker the first entirely CGI major character to be blended with live-action actors]]. Actor Ahmed Best acted on set wearing a Jar Jar hat for the benefit of the other actors, and was superimposed over by the CGI. The actor also wore a perfect replica of Jar Jar's clothes, which were also replaced by CGI--they were originally planning on just replacing the actor's head, and not the rest of the body, but it turned out to be easier to just make the whole character from scratch, rather than stick a CGI head on existing footage. There are a few shots where Jar Jar's face isn't visible, so it was cheaper to go with the live-action Best. After learning that it was easier to create Jar Jar entirely in CGI, George Lucas grumpily said, "So I just spent $10,000 on a costume that I don't need."
** Most of the non-human aliens in the prequels, as well as most of the droids and all of the clone warriors while in uniform, are CGI.
** While ''Film/TheForceAwakens'' largely returns to on-set practical effects, two notable characters are performance-captured: Creator/AndySerkis himself as Supreme Leader Snoke, and Creator/LupitaNyongo as Maz Kanata. Both characters are too out-of-scale to be portrayed by on-set actors; Snoke's physical proportions are vastly unusual to the point where he couldn't be created practically, while Maz is about the size of Yoda.
** In ''Film/RogueOne'', two characters from the original trilogy return via this method--Guy Henry donned performance capture gear and did a Peter Cushing impression to play Wilhuff Tarkin and [[spoiler:Ingvild Deila did the same for Princess Leia in a scene at the end, with help from archive audio.]] Subverted for other characters who were recast (Mon Mothma), played by the same actors as before (Bail Organa, Vader's voice) or [[spoiler:appear with the help of original trilogy footage off the cutting room floor.]]
* Davy Jones (played by a CG Creator/BillNighy) and the crew of the Flying Dutchman in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest'' and ''At World's End'', in their "monster" forms, with the exception of Bill Turner (Stellan Skarsgård, who was the only one who actually had to wear makeup and prosthetics instead of motion-capture gear). Also, Barbossa and his crew in their moonlit undead forms in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl.''
* Film/ScoobyDoo and Scrappy-Doo from the 2002 live-action movie.

* Doctor Manhattan in the [[Film/{{Watchmen}} film adaptation]] of ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}''. A combination of the actor's face, and a bodybuilder's physique.
* For probably the first time in his career, Doug Jones did this in ''Film/FantasticFourRiseOfTheSilverSurfer''.
* Sonny and the rest of the ''Film/IRobot'' robots, with movements provided by the guy from ''Film/StrictlyBallroom''.
* The Na'vi (real and Avatars) from Creator/JamesCameron's ''Film/{{Avatar}}''. WordOfGod is that Cameron had the idea for the film for quite a while but knew that technology hadn't quite caught up to his dream. After seeing Creator/AndySerkis as Gollum in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'', he knew that time had come.
* Alita in ''Film/AlitaBattleAngel''.
* At least a few of the ConspicuousCGI characters in ''Film/{{Immortal}}''.

* Some of the ghosts in the ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' series are animated this way.
* All of the alien "prawns" in ''Film/{{District 9}}''.
* The Comicbook/IncredibleHulk in [[Film/{{Hulk}} both]] [[Film/TheIncredibleHulk movies]] (in the first one, director Ang Lee himself provided the motion capture), and also in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', with motion capture provided by Banner's actor Creator/MarkRuffalo. Serkis actually worked with Ruffalo on his performance in the sequel ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron''. Funnily enough, Serkis plays Ulysses Klaue, who is ''not'' a CG creation. ''Age of Ultron'' also has Creator/JamesSpader using this technique to portray the [[ComicBook/{{Ultron}} titular villain]].
* This technique was used for Comicbook/{{Thanos}} in ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', with Creator/JoshBrolin providing the villain's voice and motion capture. The Children of Thanos (Ebony Maw, Proxima Midnight, Corvus Glaive and Cull Obsidian) were created this way as well.
* Dobby and Kreacher from ''Film/HarryPotter'' (in [[Film/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows the seventh film]], they even decided to put stand-ins in the set instead of having actors acting with the empty).
* The [[Film/Terminator3RiseOfTheMachines third]] and [[Film/TerminatorSalvation fourth]] ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'' movies have skeletonized robots done as this.
* Two-Face's scarring received this treatment in ''Film/TheDarkKnight''.
* Many of the Martians in ''Film/JohnCarter'' (such as the ones played by Willem Dafoe and Samantha Morton) are this.
* For certain pivotal scenes in ''Film/{{Godzilla 2014}}'', Creator/GarethEdwards had Andy Serkis himself hired to control the motions of Franchise/{{Godzilla}}.

* In ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'', Vin Diesel performed all the motion capture for his character Groot (whom he also voiced) used in the final version of the film. Another actor was used as a "stopgap" before he was cast, but none of his footage was ultimately used.
** Creator/SeanGunn provided all of the motion capture for Rocket.
* In order to avoid the look of the character from the [[Film/TheFantasticFour past]] [[Film/FantasticFour2005 movies]], The 2015 ''[[Film/FantasticFour2015 Fantastic Four]]'' has Jamie Bell providing the voice and motion capture work for The Thing. They even brought in his old motion capture coach from ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTintin'' to help out.
* Colossus is entirely CG in the ''Film/{{Deadpool 2016}}'' movie, which allows for a much more comic-accurate appearance than he had in the previous films in the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''. {{Lampshaded}} in the opening credits, where he's billed as "A CGI character." [[Film/{{Deadpool 2}} The sequel]] adds [[spoiler: the Juggernaut]], another computer-generated character who looks more like his comic counterpart than he did in his [[Film/XMenTheLastStand last movie appearance]].
* In ''Film/TheJungleBook2016'', most of the characters aside from Mowgli, are rendered at least partially as a Serkis Person, especially Creator/ChristopherWalken as King Louie and Creator/BillMurray as Baloo. However, Kaa, voiced by Creator/ScarlettJohansson, is not, to avoid the UncannyValley.
* In ''Film/PowerRangers2017'', Alpha 5 and Zordon are Serkis People, with Bill Hader donning a motion capture suit to play the former (whom he also voices) and Bryan Cranston having his performance filmed to do the latter.
* The Beast and several of the Enchanted Objects in ''Film/BeautyAndTheBeast2017''.
* ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'': [[spoiler:Mysterio is a rare InUniverse example - the Mysterio we see during his fights with the Elementals [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall is an illusion, controlled by the real Quentin Beck via a mocap suit]]. Conveniently, the fake Mysterio never removes his FishbowlHelmet, which is part of Beck's mocap rig. Then, at the end, Beck takes it up another level - the mocap suit Beck is revealed to be an illusion, created so Beck can [[CombatPragmatist invisibly sneak up and shoot Peter in the head]].]]

* The first few ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' games used this trope.

* Several ''VideoGame/{{Tony Hawks|ProSkater}}'' games have made use of motion-capture.

* Done with ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'' and ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6''.
* The ''VideoGame/RainbowSix Vegas'' games.
* Justified with ''VideoGame/SplinterCell: Blacklist'' since Michael Ironside was so old that he can't handle doing mo-cap sequences.

* It is not uncommon to note in videogame credits that voice actors are often also credited with motion capture, too. Examples include ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'' and ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'', though it doesn't always mean that the voice actor is mocapping his or her actual character.
* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' was made entirely using motion capture, at least for humans.
* Every ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' game from ''VideoGame/HaloReach'' and ''VideoGame/{{Halo 4}}'' onward uses motion capture.
* This was done in ''VideoGame/VirtuaCop 3'' with all of the characters being rendered by Japanese motion capture actors.
* The ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' series makes extensive use of motion-capture, and is also notable for featuring two ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' veterans to provide voice-work and mocap for two key characters: Vergil (Creator/DanSouthworth, [[Series/PowerRangersTimeForce the Quantum Ranger]]) and Nero (Creator/JohnnyYongBosch, [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers the second Black Ranger]]).
* This is how Creator/KitHarington acts out Salen Kotch in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyInfiniteWarfare''.
* The titular character of ''VideoGame/HellbladeSenuasSacrifice'' was both voiced and motion captured by Melina Juergens, who prior to that point was a video editor for developer Creator/NinjaTheory - this was her first ever acting role.

-->-- The [[WebVideo/HonestTrailers honest trailer]] for ''Film/DawnOfThePlanetOfTheApes''

* Colossus is entirely CG in the ''Film/{{Deadpool 2016}}'' movie, which allows for a much more comic-accurate appearance than he had in the previous ''Film/XMen'' films. {{Lampshaded}} in the opening credits, where he's billed as "A CGI character." [[Film/{{Deadpool 2}} The sequel]] adds [[spoiler: the Juggernaut]], another computer-generated character who looks more like his comic counterpart than he did in his [[Film/XMenTheLastStand last movie appearance]].

** Jar Jar Binks in ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'' was the first entirely CGI major character to be blended with live-action actors. Actor Ahmed Best acted on set wearing a Jar Jar hat for the benefit of the other actors, and was superimposed over by the CGI. The actor also wore a perfect replica of Jar Jar's clothes, which were also replaced by CGI--they were originally planning on just replacing the actor's head, and not the rest of the body, but it turned out to be easier to just make the whole character from scratch, rather than stick a CGI head on existing footage. There are a few shots where Jar Jar's face isn't visible, so it was cheaper to go with the live-action Best. After learning that it was easier to create Jar Jar entirely in CGI, George Lucas grumpily said, "So I just spent $10,000 on a costume that I don't need."

Named after the actor Creator/AndySerkis, who was transformed by CGI wizardry into the characters of Gollum (from ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' and ''Film/TheHobbit'') and [[Film/KingKong2005 King Kong]] for [[Creator/PeterJackson Peter Jackson's]] films. The trope name is [[DontExplainTheJoke a spin on the phrase "circus folk"]].

This can land in the UncannyValley if the CGI overlay doesn't quite work, [[TropesAreTools or if it wasn't meant to work]].

* The ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' series makes extensive use of motion-capture, and is also notable for featuring two ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' veterans to provide voice-work and mocap for two key characters: Vergil (Creator/DanielSouthworth, [[Series/PowerRangersTimeForce the Quantum Ranger]]) and Nero (Creator/JohnnyYongBosch, [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers the second Black Ranger]]).