The Uncanny Valley: Everything You Need To Know in 2 Minutes

Computer animation technology has made huge leaps in the last decade. Animators can create characters almost indistinguishable from real humans ... almost. And these achievements are having unexpected consequences.

In the latest video of our Mashable Explains series, we explain the bizarre "uncanny valley" phenomenon.

The uncanny valley is a problem in both animation and robotics. It's that "creep factor" you get when looking at hyper-realistic robots or animated characters. When robots and animations look very close to human, but not enough to be convincing, people often find them visually revolting.

Check out the video above to learn more about the uncanny valley throughout history, and how it may affect your favorite films. Don't forget to check out Mashable's YouTube channel for more great videos.

BONUS: Mashable Explains: What is 3D Printing and How Does it Work?

Image: Gerald Miles
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