--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: CGI is to me like watching a cartoon. It…" description: "\"CGI is to me like watching a cartoon. It can be effective, if it's done well. A lot of times you don't feel any real risk. You're watching a bunch of c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/karen-allen-13954_bunch_cgi-is-to-me-like-watching-a-cartoon-it_1024613.jpg" --- # CGI is to me like watching a cartoon. It can be effective… ![“CGI is to me like watching a cartoon. It can be effective, if it's done well. A lot of times you don't feel any real risk. You're watching a bunch of computer-generated graphics.” quote by Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/karen-allen-13954_bunch_cgi-is-to-me-like-watching-a-cartoon-it_1024613.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/karen-allen-13954_bunch_cgi-is-to-me-like-watching-a-cartoon-it_1024613.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/karen-allen-13954_bunch_cgi-is-to-me-like-watching-a-cartoon-it_1024613.jpg) > “CGI is to me like watching a cartoon. It can be effective, if it's done well. A lot of times you don't feel any real risk. You're watching a bunch of computer-generated graphics.” [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. CGI can be engaging when skillfully crafted, but often feels detached, lacking genuine risk or immersion. **In simple terms:** Good CGI feels real; bad CGI feels artificial. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity in visual effects. Themes cinema technology authenticity Mood analytical critical Type observational evaluative When to use this quote - film production - video game design - advertising - virtual reality Key Concepts visual storytelling digital realism Questions to Reflect On - How does CGI affect audience immersion? - When does CGI enhance versus distract? A Different Perspective Overreliance on CGI can diminish emotional impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animation/) [Bunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bunch/) [Cartoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoon/) [Cartoon Effective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoon-effective-2304854/) [Cgi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cgi/) [Cgi Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cgi-like-2304853/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computer Generated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-generated-1449568/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Graphics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graphics/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Watching Cartoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watching-cartoon-2304855/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [Working with CGI is more like doing theater where your sort of imagining things. I didn't experience it as restrictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frain/working-with-cgi-is-more-like-doing-theater-where-your-sort-of/) [James Frain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frain/) > [CGI means, just to be clear, creating any type of image with a computer. Basically, starting off with nothing, or with images and manipulating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-aronofsky/cgi-means-just-to-be-clear-creating-any-type-of-image-with-a-computer/) [Darren Aronofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-aronofsky/) > [When you're watching a cartoon and you understand the dirty joke that you never understood as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-re-watching-a-cartoon-and-you-understand-the-dirty-joke-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There was a time when watching a cartoon was a nurturing experience. You would watch a Warner Bros. cartoon, and at the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-danza/there-was-a-time-when-watching-a-cartoon-was-a-nurturing-experience/) [Tony Danza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-danza/) > [I do remember watching the cartoon, 'Rambo,' and I had some of the action figures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-vontavious-porter/i-do-remember-watching-the-cartoon-rambo-and-i-had-some-of-the-action/) [Montel Vontavious Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-vontavious-porter/) > [There was a time (childhood) when…sleeping , playing and watching cartoon were my top priorities..!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashima-gaba/there-was-a-time-childhood-when-sleeping-playing-and-watching-cartoon/) [Ashima Gaba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashima-gaba/) > [Watching Fox, that's like watching the Cartoon Network. Fox is nuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/watching-fox-that-s-like-watching-the-cartoon-network-fox-is-nuts/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Are we blasphemous in saying that 2-D is largely a thing of the past, and computer-generated animation is the present and future? It's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-iger/are-we-blasphemous-in-saying-that-2-d-is-largely-a-thing-of-the-past/) [Bob Iger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-iger/) > [We're having the first computer-generated comic strip in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/majel-barrett/we-re-having-the-first-computer-generated-comic-strip-in-the-united/) [Majel Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/majel-barrett/) > [“This computer-generated pangram contains six a's, one b, three c's, three d's, thirty-seven e's, six f's, three g's, nine h's, twelve i's, one j,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-r-hofstadter/this-computer-generated-pangram-contains-six-a-s-one-b-three-c-s/) [Douglas R. Hofstadter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-r-hofstadter/) > ['Star Wars' gave birth to all the computer-generated superhero films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-friedkin/star-wars-gave-birth-to-all-the-computer-generated-superhero-films/) [William Friedkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-friedkin/) > [A program designed for inputs from people is usually stressed beyond breaking point by computer-generated inputs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-ritchie/a-program-designed-for-inputs-from-people-is-usually-stressed-beyond/) [Dennis Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-ritchie/) > [Ideally, you will never know that you're seeing a computer-generated car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/ideally-you-will-never-know-that-you-re-seeing-a-computer-generated/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Clearly, if wed had the kind of computer graphics capability then that we have now, the Star Gate sequence would be much more complex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-trumbull/clearly-if-wed-had-the-kind-of-computer-graphics-capability-then-that/) [Douglas Trumbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-trumbull/) > [From tours to mixing, mastering, graphics, artwork - I've done out of pocket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logic/from-tours-to-mixing-mastering-graphics-artwork-i-ve-done-out-of/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logic/) ## More by Karen Allen > [My son was born somewhat late in my life and I just found myself really feeling like I didn't want to miss out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/my-son-was-born-somewhat-late-in-my-life-and-i-just-found-myself/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [I have to say from an actor's perspective, to work with a director who has been an actor through most of their career is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/i-have-to-say-from-an-actor-s-perspective-to-work-with-a-director-who/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [I thought, I need to reinvent myself. I want every day of life to be wonderful, fascinating, interesting, creative. And what am I gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/i-thought-i-need-to-reinvent-myself-i-want-every-day-of-life-to-be/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [People want to see a movie that casts a mature woman across from a mature man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/people-want-to-see-a-movie-that-casts-a-mature-woman-across-from-a/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [I don't necessarily like being defined by my profession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/i-don-t-necessarily-like-being-defined-by-my-profession/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [I watch many, many, many independent films every year that you see once in a film festival and they're never heard of ever again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/i-watch-many-many-many-independent-films-every-year-that-you-see-once/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [As far as acting in films, there is not much out there that is very interesting to do. The ones that are interesting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/as-far-as-acting-in-films-there-is-not-much-out-there-that-is-very/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [If there are no other wonderful roles that come my way, I have a quite an interesting, dynamic life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/if-there-are-no-other-wonderful-roles-that-come-my-way-i-have-a-quite/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [Unfortunately, I feel as actors we have to fight for the right to really go in as many directions as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/unfortunately-i-feel-as-actors-we-have-to-fight-for-the-right-to/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [I'm from a generation of fantastic actresses. It's a big pool of really wonderful actresses, and so many of them we never even get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/i-m-from-a-generation-of-fantastic-actresses-it-s-a-big-pool-of/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [When independent films break through and actually make it into any level of mainstream-ness or get seen by people or find a life actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/when-independent-films-break-through-and-actually-make-it-into-any/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [There is a difference when you work with actors who have worked on the stage. When we're out there in front of an audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/there-is-a-difference-when-you-work-with-actors-who-have-worked-on/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [Eventually you love people - friends or lovers - because of their flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/eventually-you-love-people-friends-or-lovers-because-of-their-flaws/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [Caregivers of those with a traumatic brain injury had their blood pressure recorded at certain time of day -- at meals and during other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/caregivers-of-those-with-a-traumatic-brain-injury-had-their-blood/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [I try to offer as much as I can to the director so he has as much to work with as possible to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/i-try-to-offer-as-much-as-i-can-to-the-director-so-he-has-as-much-to/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) [Explore all 48 Karen Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) ## More Animation quotes > [If I'm doing a voice-over session, like animation or something, and I'm doing three different voices, you've gotta separate them. You've gotta find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-adlon/if-i-m-doing-a-voice-over-session-like-animation-or-something-and-i-m/) [Pamela Adlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-adlon/) > [I was always into cartoons and animation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nonito-donaire/i-was-always-into-cartoons-and-animation/) [Nonito Donaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nonito-donaire/) > [What's unique about Disney Animation, many of the films have this perennial quality about them. They don't seem like old films, they still seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/what-s-unique-about-disney-animation-many-of-the-films-have-this/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [I was always tinkering around with stuff but nothing serious at the time. I was doing animations and drawing like crazy, but I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-vangaalen/i-was-always-tinkering-around-with-stuff-but-nothing-serious-at-the/) [Chad VanGaalen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-vangaalen/) > [In feature animation, cartoony or exaggerated animation is almost taboo. There is this precedent that if you do that kind of stuff people won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genndy-tartakovsky/in-feature-animation-cartoony-or-exaggerated-animation-is-almost/) [Genndy Tartakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genndy-tartakovsky/) > [CGI has fully ruined car crashes. Because how can you be impressed with them now? When you watch them in the '70s, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/cgi-has-fully-ruined-car-crashes-because-how-can-you-be-impressed/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [To this day I over prepare. I draw storyboards for every scene - chicken scratches so crude that they amuse and horrify the crew.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/to-this-day-i-over-prepare-i-draw-storyboards-for-every-scene-chicken/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [I was invited to join the MGM cartoon department. But if I'd started work in animation I'd have had to take a cut in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-was-invited-to-join-the-mgm-cartoon-department-but-if-i-d-started/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I took a lot of influences from Studio Ghibli, which is the Japanese animation studio that made 'Spirited Away' and 'Castle in the Sky.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/i-took-a-lot-of-influences-from-studio-ghibli-which-is-the-japanese/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [I've worked in animation for a long time. I started in Spain and I wanted to make feature films. That desire to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-garcia/i-ve-worked-in-animation-for-a-long-time-i-started-in-spain-and-i/) [Raul Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-garcia/) > [If you were to look at an old 'Betty Boop' cartoon or an 'Out of the Ink Well' animation, there are many things about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-seibert/if-you-were-to-look-at-an-old-betty-boop-cartoon-or-an-out-of-the-ink/) [Fred Seibert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-seibert/) > [Animation has always been about technology. You can't have animation without technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-wedge/animation-has-always-been-about-technology-you-can-t-have-animation/) [Chris Wedge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-wedge/) > [In a movie, it's often important to have aliens whose gestures and facial expressions can be 'read' by humans. And in the days before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/in-a-movie-it-s-often-important-to-have-aliens-whose-gestures-and/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Tigress is my alternate personality, especially with children. I love animation because you get to do things you don't normally get to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-yuh-nelson/tigress-is-my-alternate-personality-especially-with-children-i-love/) [Jennifer Yuh Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-yuh-nelson/) > [With live-action I think we'd have lost the universal appeal of the Persepolis story. With live-action, it would have turned into a story of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/with-live-action-i-think-we-d-have-lost-the-universal-appeal-of-the/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) [Browse all 837 Animation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "CGI is to me like watching a cartoon. It can be effective, if it's done well. A lot of times you don't feel any real risk. 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