Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Advances in technology have enabled animators and video game designers to design increasingly realistic, human-like characters in animation and games. Although it was intended that this increased realism would allow viewers to appreciate the emotional state of characters, research has shown that audiences often have a negative reaction as the human likeness of a character increases. This phenomenon, known as the Uncanny Valley, has become a benchmark for measuring if a character is believably realistic and authentically human like. This book is an essential guide on how to overcome the Uncanny Valley phenomenon when designing human-like characters in digital applications.

In this book, the author provides a synopsis of literature about the Uncanny Valley phenomenon and explains how it was introduced into contemporary thought. She then presents her theories on its possible psychological causes based on a series of empirical studies. The book focuses on how aspects of facial expression and speech can be manipulated to overcome the Uncanny Valley in character design.

The Uncanny Valley in Games and Animation presents a novel theory that goes beyond previous research in that the cause of the Uncanny Valley is based on a perceived lack of empathy in a character. This book makes an original, scholarly contribution to our current understanding of the Uncanny Valley phenomenon and fills a gap in the literature by assessing the biological and social roots of the Uncanny Valley and its implications for computer-graphics animation.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Acknowledgments (p. ix)
• Author Biography (p. xi)
• Introduction (p. xiii)
• Chapter 1 The Uncanny Valley (p. 1)
• 1.1 Experience of the Uncanny (p. 2)
• 1.2 Bukimi no Tani-The Uncanny Valley (p. 6)
• 1.3 Critical Studies of the Uncanny Valley in Games and Animation (p. 10)
• References (p. 21)
• Chapter 2 Previous Investigation into the Uncanny Valley (p. 25)
• 2.1 Design Guidelines for a Character's Appearance (p. 26)
• 2.2 The Effect of Movement (p. 28)
• 2.3 Plotting the Uncanny Valley (p. 31)
• 2.4 Lost in Translation? (p. 35)
• 2.5 The Effect of Age and Gender on Sensitivity to the Uncanny Valley (p. 38)
• 2.6 An Evolutionary or Developmental Phenomenon? (p. 41)
• References (p. 43)
• Chapter 3 Survival Horror Characters and the Uncanny (p. 47)
• 3.1 Early Sound Cinema (p. 49)
• 3.2 Survival Horror Versus Horror Film (p. 51)
• 3.3 Facial Expression (p. 54)
• 3.4 Speech Qualities (p. 55)
• 3.5 Articulation of Speech (p. 57)
• 3.6 Lip-Synchronization (p. 60)
• 3.7 Designing for or Against the Uncanny (p. 65)
• References (p. 67)
• Chapter 4 Uncanny Facial Expression of Emotion (p. 71)
• 4.1 Universal Emotions (p. 73)
• 4.2 Facial Action Coding System (p. 74)
• 4.3 Nonverbal Communication (p. 76)
• 4.4 False or Fabricated Emotion (p. 79)
• 4.5 The Effect of Emotion Type on Uncanniness (p. 81)
• 4.5.1 Uncanny Emotion: Fear and Surprise (p. 83)
• 4.5.2 Sadness and Anthropomorphism (p. 86)
• 4.5.3 Disgust, Revulsion and the Nose Wrinkler Action (p. 87)
• 4.5.4 Our Perceptual Advantage to Anger (p. 89)
• 4.5.5 Happiness and Uncanny False Smiles (p. 90)
• References (p. 95)
• Chapter 5 Applying Psychological Plausibility to the Uncanny Valley (p. 99)
• 5.1 Previous Psychological Explanations of the Uncanny Valley (p. 100)
• 5.2 Empathy and Humanity (p. 102)
• 5.3 Perception of Antisocial Personality Traits in an Uncanny Character (p. 104)
• 5.4 Lack of Visual Startle Reflex and Psychopathy (p. 106)
• 5.5 Aberrant Facial Expression and Perception of Psychopathy (p. 108)
• 5.6 The Effect of Character Gender and Age on Uncanniness (p. 111)
• 5.7 Antisocial Traits in Antipathetic Characters (p. 117)
• References (p. 120)
• Chapter 6 The Mind's Mirror and the Uncanny (p. 125)
• 6.1 Mirror Neuron Activity (p. 126)
• 6.2 Facial Mimicry and Emotional Contagion (p. 129)
• 6.3 A Lack of Facial Mimicry in Humans (p. 133)
• 6.4 Facial Mimicry in Relational Human-Like Characters (p. 136)
• 6.5 The Uncanny In Humans (p. 141)
• References (p. 144)
• Chapter 7 Attachment Theory and Threat To Self-Concept (Ego) (p. 149)
• 7.1 Reflection of the Self (p. 150)
• 7.2 Self, Identity and Attachment Theory (p. 152)
• 7.3 Protest, Despair and Detachment Behavior (p. 155)
• 7.4 Threat to Self-Concept (Eco) (p. 161)
• 7.5 Objective Quantification Of Uncanniness and Future Work (p. 164)
• 7.6 Do We All Experience the Uncanny in Human-Like Characters? (p. 167)
• References (p. 171)
• Chapter 8 Will We Ever Overcome the Uncanny Valley? (p. 177)
• 8.1 Overcoming The Uncanny: A Question Of Time? (p. 178)
• 8.2 The Uncanny Wall (p. 182)
• 8.3 The Human and Financial Cost of Uncanny Human-Like Characters (p. 190)
• 8.4 The Future: A Human-Like Virtual Newborn (p. 194)
• References (p. 201)
• Index (p. 205)