Tarzan 3D, the latest production from Constantin Films, has attracted stiff criticism ahead of its US release over the quality of the motion capture animation it uses. According to Firstshowing.net, the animation techniques used in the movie are less than impressive, suggesting the visuals were similar to “an old video game.” With the film already playing in cinemas across Europe, this type of criticism could spell problems ahead of the film’s make-or-break launch in the United States.

The trailer shows Tarzan swinging through trees, interacting with his ecosystem, and ultimately trying to secure his love interest in Jane. But according to the critics, the scenes lack realism and a fluidity of movement. The jerky, pointed visuals, they say, show a standard of animation that is not quite on a par with the big budget animated movies of today. While motion capture technology was used in the making of the film, it has been suggested that the standard of the motion capture animation has been less than is to be expected. [Read more…]