Gallery: When Will a Motion-Capture Actor Win an Oscar?
Joe Lederer01rise-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-full-suit
*Andy Serkis uses a motion-capture suit to portray Caesar the chimp in the critically acclaimed* Rise of the Planet of the Apes*. Will his performance garner an Oscar nomination?*
02serkis-comp
*For* Rise of the Planet of the Apes, *head-mounted cameras capture Andy Serkis' facial movements as Caesar. The emotive performance is convincingly rendered by animators into the digital skin of a chimpanzee.*
03lord-of-the-rings-gollum
*Andy Serkis got snubbed for an Oscar nomination when he played Gollum in 2001's* The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Photo credit: WETA Digital Ltd.04haddock
*Andy Serkis plays boozy sailor Captain Haddock in* The Adventures of Tintin *(and steals the show).*
05king-kong-2
*Peter Jackson's 2005 remake* King Kong *featured Andy Serkis in a performance-capture portrayal of the fierce gorilla.*
06the-polar-express
*Robert Zemeckis pioneered motion-capture animation in his 2004 Tom Hanks feature,* The Polar Express.
07beowulf
*Ray Winstone played* Beowulf *opposite Angelina Jolie in Robert Zemeckis' 2007 motion-capture fantasy.*
08benjamin-button-2
*2008's* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button *used motion capture to merge a little man's body with Brad Pitt's head.*
09avatar-5
*James Cameron's 2009 performance-capture blockbuster* Avatar *picked up nine Oscar nominations including Best Picture, but Academy voters snubbed all the actors including Zoe Saldana, pictured right, as Neytiri.*
10tron-legacy-head-rendering
*For 2010 movie* Tron: Legacy, *Digital Domain grafted a CGI construction of a young Jeff Bridges' head onto the body of another actor to produce a hybrid character fueled by performance-capture technology.*
The Best Greens Powders for Drinking Your Veggies
I did the research and taste-testing to find the best greens powders worth your money. Bloom Nutrition’s Superfood Greens Powder is my tried-and-true pick.
Louryn Strampe
The Best Automatic Litter Boxes Tested by Our Spoiled Cats
With these high-tech automatic litter boxes, gone are the days of scooping and smells. Welcome to the future.
Molly Higgins
Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs
Sitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.
Julian Chokkattu
The Best Mattresses You Can Buy Online in 2026
WIRED has tested 100-plus bed-in-a-box mattresses for a week each. Our top pick, the Helix Midnight Luxe hybrid, is the best bed you can buy online.
Julia Forbes
20 Best Gifts for Men, Manly Men, and Menly Man Men
When you need something that’s as mannishly masculinized as you can get for the Man™ in your life, we have you covered.
Matthew Korfhage
The Best Drip Coffee Makers Now Rival Café Pour-Over
The old-fashioned drip coffee maker has come a long way. These impressive machines can turn your barista into a stranger.
Matthew Korfhage
The Best Qi2 and MagSafe Wireless Chargers for Your Phone
Top up your Qi2 Android phone or MagSafe iPhone with a magnetic wireless charging stand, pad, car charger, or power bank.
Simon Hill
Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs
Sitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.
Julian Chokkattu
Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs
Sitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.
Julian Chokkattu
Ranking the Best Red-Light Therapy Mask and LED Devices of 2026
Your face called, and it’s low-key offended you might trust TikTok more than WIRED.
Boutayna Chokrane
The Best Hiking Boots and Shoes for Any Adventure
From strenuous hikes and serious summits to weekend rambles in the park, these boots help you make the most of your time outdoors.
Chris Haslam
The Best Portable Power Stations for Blackouts, Camping, or Van Life
Whether you’re going off-grid or safeguarding against blackouts, these beefy, WIRED-tested batteries can keep the lights on.
Simon Hill