Adoption of Synthesized Images in Hollywood is Changing the Role of Animal Actors

Since its beginnings, cinema has utilized animals as full-fledged actors. But their presence on set has decreased with the rise of synthesized images, while animal rights organizations are working to end sometimes abusive practices.

The history of non-human actors is long and full of anecdotes, from Luke, the dog of silent film star Roscoe Arbuckle (aka Fatty), to the collies who portrayed Lassie in movies and television. The bear Bart appeared in over 20 film and TV appearances in the 1980s and 1990s, while countless horses contributed to the historical series flooding streaming platforms today.

However, business isn’t as good as before for trainers specializing in renting animals of all kinds to film and television productions.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the trend has been present for at least twenty-five years, due to a mix of animal rights activism and technological progress, as observed in animal screen research.

Fewer Roles to Share

The adoption of synthesized images in Hollywood has played a significant role in the “unemployment” of these animal “actors.” Since Jurassic Park (1993) blended dinosaurs in computer-generated imagery (CGI) with human actors, more and more digital animals have appeared alongside humans.

But other factors have contributed to this trend. The Covid-19 pandemic, strikes by Hollywood actors and screenwriters in 2023, and a recent decrease in the number of new TV series have led to fewer productions and roles available, whether for humans or animals.

Can Synthesized Images Desensitize Viewers to Animal Violence?

There are certainly trainers who deeply care for their animals and adhere to best breeding practices. But it’s obvious that the fewer animals in captivity, the better, and recent advances in AI have made visual effects and synthesized images even more realistic and easier to model.

Replacing real animals with pixel creatures seems to have paved the way for unlimited abuses. Take the brutal violence in remakes of Planet of the Apes, including hand-to-hand combat, branding, and a crucifixion scene.

Once, the presence of real animals on set sometimes restrained filmmakers’ wildest impulses; violence was suggested or took place off-screen in family films like Bambi (1942) and Old Yeller (1957).

Viewers Can Still Detect the Virtual

A hybrid approach to animal representation on screen seems to have emerged, using what one researcher called “composite canine performances.” For example, the team behind the 2025 version of Superman aimed to create a realistic dog, down to every unruly hair, integrating just enough real animals in pre-production to animate a mostly CGI creature.

But when it comes to films rooted in real-life settings, real animals still have their place on set. It is generally cheaper to use real animals, and most virtual animals on screen simply aren’t realistic enough to allow for the complete suspension of disbelief that makes movie magic.

By Cynthia Chris (Professor of Media Studies, City University of New York)

This article is from The Conversation