Uncanny Valley

What is Uncanny Valley?

Uncanny Valley describes the psychological discomfort experienced when digital characters approach but don't quite achieve photorealism, prompting many developers to choose stylized character designs rather than near-realistic humans to maintain immersion.

What is the meaning behind Uncanny Valley?

This phenomenon, first identified by robotics professor Masahiro Mori in the 1970s, explains why almost-but-not-quite-realistic human representations often trigger negative emotional responses. The graphical representation of this effect shows human comfort increasing as realism improves until reaching a critical threshold where imperfect realism causes a sharp decline in comfort - the "valley" itself. For 3D application developers, this psychological principle has profound implications for character design strategies.

Many successful applications deliberately avoid the pursuit of perfect human replication, instead embracing stylized aesthetics that sidestep the uncanny effect entirely.

Why is the concept of Uncanny Valley useful?

By understanding this psychological response, developers can make informed artistic choices that maintain user engagement without triggering the discomfort associated with imperfect realism.