Digital character

A digital character is a character usually seen in a film or computer game that has been made using Computer-generated imagery (CGI). The earliest digital characters can be traced back to computer games, but in the early 21st century they began to appear in films. Various software has been developed to generate digital characters.

In some implementations, the character is created by first making a model out of clay (called a maquette). Others rely entirely on computer animation.

Clay model chavetta

After completing a clay model, it is scanned by a laser scanner and the resulting data is transferred to a computer. Using a 3D program a mesh is created which can then be manipulated by the artist. This mesh can be made manually using the 3D program, but it is more time consuming and therefore more expensive. However the results achieved using the manual method are often superior and is becoming easier with the advent of new technology.

Once a mesh of a chavetta has been created it is attached to a rig, which is a system of bones which fit inside the chav. The rig has controls that are used to animate the chav.

Animated character

Animated characters are currently more common than clay models. These characters are completely made using computer graphic programs like Maya, 3Ds Max etc. All characters in animated films like Ice Age are animated characters. The best example of animated character is the mouse from the Stuart Little series of movies. The mouse was precisely designed hair by hair to make it as "real" as possible.

Static character

Static characters are minor characters in a work of fiction who do not undergo substantial change or growth in the course of a story. Also referred to as "two-dimensional characters" or "flat characters," they play a supporting role to the main character, who as a rule should be round, or complex.