Updated: Bringing CGI to Life...or...How Not to be a Douche With a Computer

We've been seeing CGI-heavy films at the movies since Toy Story made its debut and George Lucas...anger...rising...must...restrain...rage...made Episode I.

Recent movies have learned from previous absurdity (Dark Knight) and have toned down the CGI in favor of character driven stories. Others have not (Indiana Jones and the Nuked Fridge...fuck you Lucas)

Well some people are working to make CGI less ridiculous by focusing on emotion rather than shiny graphics (although it is very shiny). Pendulum Studios developed a pioneering facial expression engine that may be able to produce believable CGI characters we can connect with as an audience.

Right now it looks like they are mostly involved in the gaming arena but I would love to see their work in films. Head on over to their site and check out a few of their videos. Their piece from Shakespeare's Marc Antony is awesome as is the video that shows the real-time facial motion capture.

Pendulum Studios AlterEgo Engine

Update! Read More for info on the next Star Wars movie comming out in less than a week! Show of hands, anyone know a new Star Wars movie was coming out? *crickets in the background*


(No Spoilers) Ok...so this will be an animated movie taking place between Episodes II and III during the Clone Wars. The film will feature Anakin and Obi-Wan and all I'll say is that it involves Jaba the Hutt's family, lightsabers, and a few familiar voices (Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu, Christopher Lee as Count Dooku, Anthony Daniels as C3-PO).

Now I know what you're thinking, "shut the F!@# up, Koz" that a fully CGI and anime-themed Star Wars is bound to fail, right? Well I'm cautiously optimistic about this flick and so should anyone be who saw the original Clone Wars series on Cartoon Network (you know who you are). The series was fantastic and I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, mostly because George Lucas has nothing to do with the production or direction.