A Synthespian, also known as a Cyberstar or Virtual Celebrity, is a digital representation of a human being that is created using a combination of CGI (computer-generated imagery), 3D modeling techniques, digital animation, and computer systems for sound manipulation and creation
Synthespians are designed to resemble the human model in terms of appearance, movement, and voice, with the ultimate goal of achieving a realistic, lifelike digital character. These digital replicas are often used in movies, television, and video games to create characters or scenes that are impossible or too expensive to create with real actors or sets. Synthespians are becoming more common as the technology for creating them continues to improve, and they may soon become an increasingly common part of our entertainment and media landscape.
Virtual Celebrities in Entertainment: a short History
Virtual celebrities have become a fascinating aspect of the entertainment industry in recent times. A Synthespian or Cyberstar, is now a common concept.
In 1987, the first real applications in the cinema were seen with Marilyn Monroe and Humphrey Bogart digitally cloned for the first digital acting experiments. With the development of creative technologies for the production of digital VFX, the creation of Synthespians became more sophisticated, up to the production of Brad Pitt's human-realistic for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Jeff Bridge's in Tron Legacy 2.
In 2009, with the production of Avatar, the cinema saw the complete technological union with the most advanced video game industry, employing technological animation applications for performance control in virtual sets. The applied research also extended to live entertainment, allowing the usage of virtual celebrities on stage, making them interact directly with the public.
The first experiment for the usage of a Synthespian in live entertainment, which performed in an Augmented Reality Set, was recorded in August 2009 with the performance of "Hatsune Miku, the Cyberstar," in its first live concert, with a synthetic voice produced by a sophisticated Yamaha system, dancing in front of 25,000 spectators in Japan.
In 2012, the first like-human cyberstar of the music sings live on Coachella's stage with the digital recreation of rapper "2Pac - Tupac Shakur," who passed away in 1996.
In 2013, Rebel Alliance became the second organization worldwide to digitally resurrect Brazilian rock star Cazuza and let him perform on stage again, 20 years after his death.
Virtual celebrities have become a new medium for the entertainment industry, allowing the resurrection of legends, new creative possibilities, and unprecedented opportunities for performers and artists.
Virtual celebrities have become a fascinating aspect of the entertainment industry in recent times. A Synthespian or Cyberstar, is now a common concept.
In 1987, the first real applications in the cinema were seen with Marilyn Monroe and Humphrey Bogart digitally cloned for the first digital acting experiments. With the development of creative technologies for the production of digital VFX, the creation of Synthespians became more sophisticated, up to the production of Brad Pitt's human-realistic for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Jeff Bridge's in Tron Legacy 2.
In 2009, with the production of Avatar, the cinema saw the complete technological union with the most advanced video game industry, employing technological animation applications for performance control in virtual sets. The applied research also extended to live entertainment, allowing the usage of virtual celebrities on stage, making them interact directly with the public.
The first experiment for the usage of a Synthespian in live entertainment, which performed in an Augmented Reality Set, was recorded in August 2009 with the performance of "Hatsune Miku, the Cyberstar," in its first live concert, with a synthetic voice produced by a sophisticated Yamaha system, dancing in front of 25,000 spectators in Japan.
In 2012, the first like-human cyberstar of the music sings live on Coachella's stage with the digital recreation of rapper "2Pac - Tupac Shakur," who passed away in 1996.
In 2013, Rebel Alliance became the second organization worldwide to digitally resurrect Brazilian rock star Cazuza and let him perform on stage again, 20 years after his death.
Virtual celebrities have become a new medium for the entertainment industry, allowing the resurrection of legends, new creative possibilities, and unprecedented opportunities for performers and artists.
