CGI Shakespeare!

Antony's "all is lost" soliloquy from A&C (4.12) has been rendered by CGI (computer-generated imaging) artists to challenge their skills with dramatic characters and in particular facial expressions. Here's the Gizmodo-UK squib, which links to the 2:12 YouTube video ...

Shakespeare Tests Computer Generated Actors, December 14, 2006

http://uk.gizmodo.com/2006/12/14/shakespeare_tests_computer_gen.html

When it comes to testing the cutting edge in CGI characters - particularly the notoriously difficult facial expressions - it seems there's no harder taskmaster than The Bard himself. The man who put the 'T' in tragedy has made, and broken, many actor's reputations on stage but, getting animated characters to portray all of those emotions, is seen as the Mt. Everest in computer animation. Pendulum Studios has taken a decent stab at it though with its CGI Mark Anthony and the recreation of [one of] the betrayal scenes in Antony and Cleopatra. There are over 30 facial expressions on display here but while it is good, there are too many emotions going on and the swapping between those emotions is a bit jarring.

Still, if you want to see the first hammy Shakespeare rendition from a CGI thespian, play the clip.--Martin Lynch