Action Quote by Jennifer Yuh Nelson
“One of my favorite things about the Kung Fu Panda 3 is the look of it. We never go for realism. I think a lot of time when people go for 3D that's the mistake. Because we're never going for full realism - for computer generated live action films like Avatar the goal is realism, to make the audience feel like they are seeing something that is real. Lord of the Rings had character design and environments to make it look real, whereas we aren't going for that, we are going for something that is theatrically, viscerally, and emotionally real.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Kung Fu Panda 3 Production, 2016
The quote stresses prioritizing emotional and theatrical authenticity over literal visual realism in CGI storytelling.
In simple terms: Focus on feeling, not perfect visual accuracy.
Aim for emotional truth in visual design.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- film direction
- animation projects
- storyboarding
- character design
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance realism with emotional impact?
- What aspects of a story benefit most from theatrical realism?
Pure visual realism can limit artistic expression and audience connection.