Film showcases innovative robot designs and motion capture techniques

In the new Netflix film "The Electric State," robots play a central role in the story. The movie features a mix of live-action and animation, led by actors Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt. They journey through a quirky alternate version of the 1990s, where a robot rebellion is underway. The film's VFX supervisors faced a unique challenge in creating the robots. The design was inspired by the graphic novel by Simon Stålenhag. There are 175 robots in total, requiring a large team of motion capture performers. Terry Notary led this team, which outnumbered the main actors. They worked closely with the visual effects team to bring the robots to life. One of the significant innovations for the movie was the use of a new type of motion capture technology. Instead of traditional methods, the team used accelerometer-based sensors. This allowed for more flexibility and made it easier to capture performances in real settings. Among the robots, Cosmo stands out. He is a companion to Brown's character and needed special attention. Cosmo has a large head and a fixed grin, making it difficult to express emotion. To solve this, the team used a child's performance as a model for his movements. They also designed his eyes to twinkle, helping convey feelings. Other robots, like Herman and Mr. Peanut, faced their own design challenges. Herman needed a unique look, resembling an old television screen. The team made sure he could move effectively with mechanical joints. Mr. Peanut's design was inspired by classic animatronics, aiming for a balance between robotic movement and facial expressions. "The Electric State" is now available for streaming on Netflix. The film highlights the creative efforts behind its unique robot characters and the groundbreaking techniques used to animate them.