ABSTRACT
The challenge of creating a compelling digital character that both looks and behaves in an appealing manner is a tremendous undertaking. Digital characters share the same difficulties inherent in traditional animation, but their trend toward realism presents many additional challenges. In this section, we examine the design decisions that must be acknowledged in the development of a digital character and the pitfalls that can arise along the way. Characters created for live-action integration and those for fully animated productions share the same challenges, and some of the best lessons come from the worlds of illustration and robotics. Also in this section, we will look at how digital characters are being used in important areas, such as education and user survey, where the delicate connection between the character and the human makes all the difference in assessing the successfulness of the project and the intended outcome.
