Avatar’s Animal Stars

American Humane Association awarded the blockbuster movie Avatar its highest rating. “American Humane applauds Avatar director James Cameron and the production for earning our highest rating by ensuring the safety of the animals used in the filming,” says Karen Rosa, vice president of American Humane’s Film & TV Unit.

See the camera on the horse? (Photo courtesy of American Humane.)

“This film was created using motion capture technology, in which performers wear miniature computerized motion sensors near joints and facial areas to capture the movements and facial muscle nuances that occur with each gesture, motion, or expression,” says Rosa. “The live action was performed in a motion capture studio covered in dark fabric and carpet (called a ‘void’) and then recorded as computer animation data, which was then mapped onto a computerized 3-D model.”

How Animals were Filmed

In this technology, humans wear a bodysuit for the ‘capture,’ but animals need to be ‘captured’ differently because of their body shapes, fur and other characteristics. To prepare the animals for having their motion data recorded, trainers shaved small areas of fur or hair where the movements would be recorded, such as near joints and on the face. Velcro pads were attached to the shaved spots with a nontoxic, nonirritating silicone adhesive. White light-reflective balls were placed onto the Velcro to capture the motion data onto the computer.

The exception to this was horses’ tails, which were not shaved, but wrapped in a sensor-laden material. The adhesive and any additional markings were washed off each evening after filming ended.

Given Lots of Room for Exercise

Throughout the film, horses are seen outdoors standing or being ridden at a walk, canter, or gallop. We also see people mounting, dismounting, and falling off horses. These scenes were all filmed inside the capture studio. Horses were given ample room to start and stop running. For scenes in which horses appear to be near fire, trainers cued them to ‘dance’ or act skittish or afraid—the horses were not actually agitated nor were they ever near fire.

In general, American Humane encourages productions to use CGI to increase safety. American Humane’s Film and TV Unit is celebrating 70 years of protecting animals in filmed media.

Movies with Animals

When I was a child, I refused to see movies with animals in them. I would worry about how the animals were treated. I really appreciate how American Humane watches over animal actors.

What are your favorite movies with animals in them?