Creature Effects as Posthuman Practice

With the ultimate aim of contributing to positive change in human-animal relations, this paper examines how creature effects (CFX) reflects and shapes contemporary attitudes towards animals. Drawing on biologist Jacob von Uexkull’s concept of “um­welt”, the paper analyses four of the author’s recent animation projects and explores the diverse perspectives, or lifeworlds, elicited by contemporary CFX practices. The paper describes how different aspects of creature FX production (including mod­elling, rigging, texturing, and animation) elicit umwelts loosely aligned to the lifeworlds of naturalists, trackers, mathematicians, and painters. Through this description, the paper fosters a deeper understanding of the socio-cultural forces shaping CFX and suggests how these forces can be disrupted. The paper finds that CFX can be considered a “posthuman practice” when it rejects the notion of human mastery over technology and positions the artist/animator as an integral part of a complex assemblage. Approached as posthuman practice, CFX challenges human exceptionalism and explores the entangled relationship between humans, technology, and animals. In conclusion, the paper reflects on the future trajectory of CFX and briefly contemplates the potential impact of AI-based methods.