The Uncanny Valley is the discomfort people feel when something looks almost human but has subtle, unnatural differences. It's the eerie, unsettling space between lifelike and artificial.
Dos:
To trigger the Uncanny Valley effect, focus on subtle deviations from normality:
Facial/Body Abnormalities: Slight asymmetry, elongated features, too-smooth skin, or dead eyes.
Unnatural Movements: Stiff, overly fluid, or delayed actions; hyper flexibility or twisted limbs.
Expression: Blank faces, unnatural smiles, prolonged eye contact, or neutral reactions in tense moments.
Distortions: Proportion mismatches, large eyes, or missing pupils.
Stillness/Ambiguity: Unnaturally still or unresponsive figures, blurred faces.
Odd Behaviour: Smiling inappropriately during sad or tense moments.
-> These subtle abnormalities create unsettling, almost-human depictions.
Don'ts:
To generate an effective Uncanny Valley effect:
Avoid extreme distortions—keep changes subtle and realistic.
Don’t make it too symmetrical—small imperfections add to the unease.
Keep movements slightly off, not exaggerated.
Don’t rely on overt horror—subtle discomfort works better.
Use a familiar setting to amplify the uncanny feel.
Maintain ambiguity—too obvious, and it loses the uncanny effect.
-> Balance subtle abnormality with familiarity for maximum impact.
-> less is more, else you lose it
