• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.14 no.10
• /
• pp.277-285
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study is to quantitatively and empirically investigate whether cartoon-realism, which is referred to as a guideline for avoiding the uncanny valley phenomenon, is actually effective. An experiment was carried out to investigate whether or not methods that try to realistically express the texture of human skin while making 3D models whose outward appearance abstract like a cartoon actually reduce the negative sentiments associated with the uncanny valley phenomenon. The results found that when human skin textures were applied to cartoon-type 3D models, the degree of eeriness significantly increased (p<0.05), while there was no change in the degree of human likeness. When cartoon-style skin textures were applied to human-type 3D models, there was no significant difference in the degree of eeriness, but the degree of human likeness significantly decreased (p<0.05). These results show that, cartoon realism is not actually effective, and rather creates a perceptual conflict and induces the uncanny valley phenomenon. The results of this study are expected to be used as quantitative and empirical data for developing design guidelines that will overcome the uncanny valley phenomenon in the future.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
• /
• s.40
• /
• pp.139-155
• /
• 2015

Animation is completed in accordance with the original planning of visual direction in the process of post-production. Especially, a variety of visualization skills to meet the planning idea are directed in editing and compositing processes such as rendering and shading in the production of 3D animation. Therefore, the studies how to implement these visual effects have been conducted since the emergence of the animation. The rendering method which appears in the recent animations so often is the effect of 2D animation style although it is applied by 3D technique. 3D animation can be classified as two types including photo realistic and non-photo realistic renderings. The former is to render the images realistically while the latter is to highlight the formative effect with analogue style free from the realism of the photographs. Visual effect of 2D animation is non-realistic, that is, non-photo realistic rendering. The animations produced by this method have the depth of 3D animation expression in terms of space and animating, and can direct the viewer-friendly analogue style visuals, which are widely used as a post-production effect. Hence in this study, we selected a short animation, 'Paperman,' one of Disney's animations, produced by cartoon rendering method which belongs to the class of non-photo rendering technique in 3D graphics, as our subject. We analyzed their techniques and visual effects of the scenes expressed by cartoon rendering method so as to understand whether they meet the original direction idea with the composition work. In addition, we expect further developments of post-production methods, exceeding the limit of graphic expression in alignment with the trend that has become more various in the types and genres of non-photo rendering.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
• /
• s.37
• /
• pp.439-461
• /
• 2014

Art has evolved into remarkable changes in its art form maintaining a close link with the contemporary scientific technologies that gave birth to new tools of expression in each era. Animation is an art form in an inextricable connection with technological aspects because it was spawned by the technical background like movies. In this regard, animation is often viewed very strongly by technical advancements in terms of an aesthetic approach. John Whitney Sr., one of the pioneers in computer graphics arts, turned his attention to the new technology called computer graphics as a means to visualize images and movement. The advent of a new medium had a strong influence not only on tools and means for novel expression but also on the gradual shift in thinking about arts and even the audiences' taste. In the 1980s, animation was combined with computer technology and the rapid progress of computer graphic technology opened up the era of new visual aesthetics, Today, the development of digital technology presents a different dimension of realism, either advocating hyperrealism by digital actors or presenting new illusionism by classic cartoon characters emphasized in a distortion or metamorphosis from a real life in order to consolidate animation realism. Based on the two perspectives mentioned above, this study can identify methods of digital character appropriation focused on the works of the ACM SIGGRAPH Asia and find how the relationship between art and technology has changed the digital realism and evolved the digital character as the digital technology has developed.