History Main / SerkisFolk

* 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 most of the time. However, it wasn't until the end of production that they figured out how to motion capture Andy's performance with the other actors on set: before then, [[DoingItForTheArt Andy had to do his entire performance a second time on an empty motion capture stage to give the animators something to work with]]. In addition to Gollum, Serkis portrayed Film/KingKong in [[Film/KingKong2005 the 2005 remake]] (as well as the live-action character Lumpy), and an intelligent chimp named Caesar in ''Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' and its [[Film/DawnOfThePlanetOfTheApes two]] [[Film/WarForThePlanetOfTheApes sequels]] (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.

** Depending on the Call of Duty games in question, a few actors have zig-zagged this trope in Black Ops (James C. Burns as Frank Woods in Black Ops I and II), and Black Ops II (Everyone except Sam Worthington and Michael Keaton). It isn't until Infinite Warfare that all of the voice actors also do double-duty as motion-capture actors for their characters from that point onward.

Historically, this technique originated even earlier 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 [[TechnologyPorn a real time performance setup, a facial capture headset and motion-captured camera objects in order to create a virtual set]]. Any method can land in the UncannyValley if the CGI overlay doesn't work, [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools or]] [[StylisticSuck if it wasn't meant to work]]. ''Film/{{Avatar}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{The Adventures of Tintin|2011}}'' were performed on an indoor motion capture set where ''everything'' is CG, but the actors still provide the core body, facial and vocal performances.

* 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.

* This is how Creator/KitHarington acts out Salen Kotch in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyInfiniteWarfare''.

** 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]]. Additionally, Cassian's snarky reprogrammed KX security droid buddy K-2SO is portrayed on-set and voiced by Creator/AlanTudyk wearing a mocap suit and stilts, to give the character the appropriate 7-foot plus height. In shooting locations where the ground was too uneven for stilts, Tudyk sometimes had to wear a backpack with a telescoping cardboard cutout of K2's head sticking out the top so his scene partners would have a proper eyeline reference.

** 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.]] Additionally, Cassian's snarky reprogrammed KX security droid buddy K-2SO is portrayed on-set and voiced by Creator/AlanTudyk wearing a mocap suit and stilts, to give the character the appropriate 7-foot plus height. In shooting locations where the ground was too uneven for stilts, Tudyk sometimes had to wear a backpack with a telescoping cardboard cutout of K2's head sticking out the top so his scene partners would have a proper eyeline reference.

** 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.]]

* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'': Season 8 saw Rooster Teeth beginning to use CGI and motion capture along with their usual machinima, courtesy of Creator/MontyOum, the guy who made ''WebAnimation/{{Haloid}}'' and ''WebAnimation/DeadFantasy''.

Historically, this technique originated even earlier 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 [[TechnologyPorn a real time performance setup, a facial capture headset and motion-captured camera objects in order to create a virtual set]]. Any method can land in the UncannyValley if the CGI overlay doesn't work, [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools or]] [[StylisticSuck if it wasn't meant to work]]. The UpToEleven version is ''Film/{{Avatar}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{The Adventures of Tintin|2011}}'', which were performed on an indoor motion capture set where ''everything'' is CG, but the actors still provide the core body, facial and vocal performances.

This is named 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's films. The story goes that Jackson planned for Gollum to be entirely computer-generated and Andy Serkis to only provide the voice, but was so impressed by Serkis's mannerisms and facial expressions in his audition that he decided they just had to capture it somehow, leading to Andy physically playing the part as well. Thus Andy was on-set with the other actors performing the character, rather than the original plan where the actors pretended somebody was there. This turned out to be beneficial: the actors could play against a fellow performer, and any interactions Andy made on set would be captured on camera, such as stepping in water, throwing rocks or pawing Frodo's petticoat.

The same methods can be used for a partial CG replacement, typically placing an actors face on a robot body. Even if the entire character is not created this way, the nature of big special effects movies often involve the actors doing the exact same thing wearing a motion capture suit. Video games and {{All CGI Cartoon}} will of course do this regularly.

* 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 most of the time. However it wasn't until the end of production that they figured out how to motion capture Andy's performance with the other actors on set: before then, [[DoingItForTheArt Andy had to do his entire performance a second time on an empty motion capture stage to give the animators something to work with]]. In addition to Gollum, Serkis portrayed Film/KingKong in [[Film/KingKong2005 the 2005 remake]] (as well as the live-action character Lumpy), and an intelligent chimp named Caesar in ''Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' and its [[Film/DawnOfThePlanetOfTheApes two]] [[Film/WarForThePlanetOfTheApes sequels]] (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.

** Several of Zod's soldiers in ''Film/ManOfSteel'' were CG creations, especially an 8 foot enforcer Superman had to fight in Smallville.

* Creator/BenedictCumberbatch voiced as well as provided (references for) motion capture for the dragon Smaug in Creator/PeterJackson's ''Film/TheHobbit''. Andy also returned as Gollum in [[Film/TheHobbitAnUnexpectedJourney the first film]]. The three trolls, the Great Goblin, Azog and Bolg are also CGI characters created by motion capture. Cumberbatch also appeared as Smaug as a guest on ''Series/TheLateShowWithStephenColbert''.

** This technique was used for Comicbook/{{Thanos}} in ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' and ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', with Creator/JoshBrolin providing the Mad Titan's voice and motion capture. The Children of Thanos (Ebony Maw, Proxima Midnight, Corvus Glaive and Cull Obsidian) were created this way as well.

** 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 costume with hat for the benefit of the other actors, as his long neck and duck-like beak to too inhuman to be a practical animatronic mask, and was superimposed over by the CGI. The actors costume was quite immaculate already, as the original intention was just replacing a CG neck and head on his 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."

** 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.

** Gorilla Grodd is done via motion-capture by Simon Burnett, and voiced by Creator/DavidSobolov.
** Savitar is portrayed via motion-capture by Andre Tricoteux, and voiced by Creator/TobinBell.

* This was used in Music/MichaelJackson's "[[Film/MichaelJacksonsGhosts Ghosts]]", when Maestro appears as a living skeleton.

* ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'' started out with their character animation entirely done by hand. But eventually the studio Creator/MainframeEntertainment was conscripted for some DTV animated projects that involved motion capture, and thus between season three and the UnCanceled season four there is a notable difference in how the characters move and express themselves due to MotionCapture.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Creator/AndySerkis The trope namer himself]] in the role that defined his specialty]]

** ''[[Series/TheElectricCompany1971 Series/TheElectricCompany]]'' featured some Scanimate material in its first season, mostly as short bumpers. That first season also saw the use of Aniform puppets, a gimmick used on different TV shows in the era as well, in which a specially-designed puppet would be performed, then go through video processing to look like animation.

* OlderThanCableTV: ''[[Series/TurnOn Turn-On]]'' was a 1969 sketch comedy show and Creator/{{ABC}}'s answer to ''Series/RowanAndMartinsLaughIn''. Though it used a few different mediums, it was most notable for being the first widely released show to use a UsefulNotes/{{Scanimate}} with a motion capture harness. Instead of tracking points in 3-D space, the harness measures the rotation of a person's joints, feeding the information into the Scanimate. This would cause a character on screen to move accordingly.

** 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.

** In ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'', Vin Diesel performed all the motion capture for 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.

* ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'': Mysterio is a rare InUniverse example - [[spoiler: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. He is able to switch between a practical costume and the illusionary superhero with ease. 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]].]]

Historically, this technique originated even earlier 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 [[TechnologyPorn a real time performance setup, a facial capture headset and motion-captured camera objects in order to create a virtual set]]. Any method can land in the UncannyValley if the CGI overlay doesn't work, [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools or]] [[StylisticSuck if it wasn't meant to work]]. The UpToEleven version is ''Film/{{Avatar}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTintin'', which were performed on an indoor motion capture set where ''everything'' is CG, but the actors still provide the core body, facial and vocal performances.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTintin'' movies are full of this, directed by Creator/StevenSpielberg and Creator/PeterJackson. And Andy Serkis even plays Captain Haddock, making it a literal example.

* 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.

* The ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'' franchise gradually switched to using this method to portray the skeleton puppets, which was typically done practically before. ''Film/Terminator3RiseOfTheMachines'' rendered its main villain entirely, although the liquid metal effect for the T-1000 in ''Film/Terminator2'' was a forerunner to A LOT of these effects.

* Every ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' game from ''VideoGame/HaloReach'' onward uses motion capture.

This is named 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'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".

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, [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools or]] [[StylisticSuck if it wasn't meant to work]].

The line between this trope and RogerRabbitEffect is difficult to define--generally, the latter uses hand-drawn animation, and the animated characters are treated as animated in-universe or are otherwise acknowledged to be distinct from their live-action surroundings.

* 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, 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.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTintin'' movies are full of this, directed by Creator/StevenSpielberg and Creator/PeterJackson. And Andy Serkis even plays Captain Haddock, making it a literal example.

* 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.

* ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'': Mysterio is a rare InUniverse example - [[spoiler: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. He is able to switch between a practical costume and the illusionary superhero with ease. 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]].]]

** 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.]]

* ''Film/{{Warcraft}}'' used this method to create its cast of Orc characters.

* 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 those playing them.

* ''Film/{{Cats}}'' is full of this, but done without MotionCapture - the director did not want the actors to be restricted by their costumes (it is a show with a lot of dancing), so the effects artists had to do {{rotoscoping}} of humanoid cat bodies onto the filmed performances.

* 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.''

[[caption-width-right:300:[[Creator/AndySerkis The trope namer himself]] in the role that defined his specialty]]

** 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.

This is named 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".

* 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.

** 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.

* Every ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' game from ''VideoGame/HaloReach'' and ''VideoGame/{{Halo 4}}'' onward uses motion capture.

* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'': Season 8 saw Rooster Teeth beginning to use CGI and motion capture along with their usual machinima, courtesy of Monty Oum, the guy who made ''WebAnimation/{{Haloid}}'' and ''WebAnimation/DeadFantasy''.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Reboot}}'' started out with their character animation entirely done by hand. But eventually the studio Creator/MainframeEntertainment was conscripted for some DTV animated projects that involved motion capture, and thus between season three and the UnCanceled season four there is a notable difference in how the characters move and express themselves due to MotionCapture.

* ''Series/SSSSGridman'' and its sequel ''Series/SSSSDynazenon'' are a rare example of a show deliberately invoking this trope without actually using it. The shows are sequels to a live-action tokusatsu show, and as such all of the kaiju in both shows are designed and animated such that while no motion capture is actually used, they could be turned into costumes and worn by suit actors. This also applies to the titular heroes of both shows, who actually ''do'' have live-action costumes for use at concerts and stage events.