REDD, J.: Modeling Fur and Feathers and the Need to Balance Perception, Science, and Entertainment

Artistic decisions are constantly made regarding the presentation of characters in films, especially when fanciful characters are placed into realistic or photorealistic environments. When animating or digitally producing a clearly fanciful character, care must be taken to adopt certain elements that will persuade the viewing audience that the “organism” is interacting with that environment in a convincing manner. One of the most effective component elements that allows persuasive integration of such characters with a realistic environment are fur, feathers, and textured clothing. Modeling surfaces as complex as animal skins with fur or feathers requires that computer programmers and animators deal with an enormous amount of data. Not only must every individual hair or feather be modeled and rendered, but the surface structure and texture of each must be considered, as must the interplay of light, shadow, and translucence of each individual element. Great care is taken to use biological reality as a point of reference and departure for hair and feathers. In this regard, individual morphology, as well as fur and feather tracts are used by modelers and digital artists. However, certain compromises are inevitably encountered. Examples of the solutions to these difficulties are demonstrated from the film Stuart Little and other projects.