View source for Uncanny Valley/Web Original

{{trope}}
Return to the main page [[Uncanny Valley|here]].

{{examples}}

* From an advert on this very website: [http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5458/uncannyvalley.png\]
** Ah, yes, the dreaded FooPets.com ads. Never before have virtual pets run headlong into the valley like these ads. Just a warning to anyone curious, they become ''worse'' when animated.
* In ''[[Ilivais X]]'', Iriana is meant to be at the very bottom of this. Mostly expressionless, very cold, looks like a monochrome walking loli corpse, can't ever die outside an energy source, gets off to being stabbed, etc. And she HATES it.
* '''''PHOTOMORPHING'''''. If you seriously think the baby in ''[[Junior]]'' looks creepy, these things look ''just plain ugly''. Some people in the [[Furry Fandom]] often do this to make themselves look like their anthros...with [[Nightmare Fuel|highly]] [[Nausea Fuel|unexpected]] [[Nightmare Fuel|results]].
** A recent [[Memetic Mutation|meme]] on [[Fur Affinity]] encourages people to find a photograph an an animal and photoshop it into their character. Fortunately, most people participating in this simply [[Amazing Technicolor Wildlife|recolor]] the picture and draw on cartoony looking clothes and accessories.
** It's incredibly bad when people who have apparently never seen ''[[Avatar (film)|Avatar]]'' photoshop themselves to look like Na'vi...pure [[Nightmare Fuel]] right there.
* Referenced in a recent ''[[Teen Girl Squad]]'' cartoon, where [[Otaku|Japanese Culture Greg]] is going to the prom with Chizuko, his robot date.
{{quote| '''Science Fiction Greg:'''You think I'd be into life-size realistic robots, but that thing makes me want to barf up my earlier energy drink into the one I'm currently drinking.}}
** Followed by Japanese Culture Greg getting UNCANNY VALLEY'D!
* There's a certain Youtube channel that warps photographs of poets to look like they're mouthing readings of their poems and creates [http://www.youtube.com/user/poetryreincarnations these abominations].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtSgWZbL_kE The Hand Thing], god! What is that?
* ''[[Cracked]] TV'' is hosted by Michael Swaim, a self-stated android who does absolutely nothing android-like, and therefore lands on the upward slope ''after'' Uncanny Valley, comfortably close to full-fledged human. His normal self is visible at the beginning of [http://www.cracked.com/video_17362_5-videos-that-tried-to-be-cute-and-failed-hilariously.html episode 15]. Then, after the forty-five second mark, he slowly becomes more and more creepy (the first change was an innocuous pink bowtie). By the end, he's reached complete and utter [[Nightmare Fuel]].
* The Nico Nico Douga "[http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm7936045 Home Haruka]" meme is aaaall about this trope. (You'll need a Nico Nico account to see that video. If you don't have one... ''lucky you''.)
** A lot of things made with the [[Vocaloid|MikuMikuDance]] software straddles the line between awesome and awesomely disturbing. What's especially fun is that the software can be used to make a model of just about anything. Case in point: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-b9eD7YDGs this], a such video featuring [[Yu-Gi-Oh!|Seto Kaiba]]. And if you're feeling especially brave, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxUUFar63KU here's the same model, dancing to Black Rock Shooter]. The creator even apologizes that ''she couldn't get the model's eyes to stop rolling back into its skull.''
*** Besides the eyes, the only creepy thing is that he is singing with a ''[[Larynx Dissonance|girl's voice]]''.
* This is what made [[The Slender Man Mythos]] so captivating. The central [[Humanoid Abomination]] is an abnormally tall guy with [[The Blank|no face or hair]] that wears a business suit. He apparently can't talk, and he walks in a very stiff manner, often with his arms out in front of him. He can also teleport anywhere he wants. [[Paranoia Fuel|Like inside your house]]. The [[Multi-Armed and Dangerous|tentacles]] are a bit off-kilter as well.
** Watch [[Marble Hornets]] alone at midnight. I dare you to sleep with the lights off afterwards.
*** Not that leaving them on will [[Daylight Horror|make you feel any better.]]
* Melancholic Princess, a digital painting done by an artist called Robert Chang developed cult status on [[YouTube]] because of this. It even spawned a series of urban myths. The original picture can be seen [http://lunatique-sf.deviantart.com/art/Melancholic-Princess-88531011 here].
* [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/magibon Magibon]. She just... stares at you. ''Unblinkingly''.
* Most people who see [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyyzboAXzFk this video] either consider it [[Nightmare Fuel]] or... [[Fetish Fuel|strangely arousing]].
* In the eyes of the [[PPC]], Mary Sues fit this trope because they're too perfectly pretty to be human.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T09iknuzDlw Fantastic Hey Hey Hey]. Good luck sleeping tonight.
* John Nolan's animatronic work. [http://www.johnnolanfilms.com/animatronics/showreel-flash.php Some are cool, but some are downright creepy.]
* Wights from [[Orion's Arm]] intentionally get as deep into the valley as they can.
* ''[[The Annoying Orange]]'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcRguMhpQPQ does] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD5UKQggXTc come] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjAsJfz9dBc across] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JO0-WCEOw4 this]. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqPnqF64WFQ#t=859s Even Daneboe, the creator of the series, has acknowledged that the characters are kind of creepy.]
* Annoying Orange, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXsdAGEqeEg meet] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Jix4zVAaM Fruity] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xDC4laNejY Fables].
* For a long time in ''[[Red vs. Blue]]'', the only character whose face we saw was Vic, who was an image capture from the first Halo game. Acceptable enough as he never looked particularly real. Then along comes Reconstruction which gives us the Councilor. A much, much more realistic looking character (same effect, only they used an image from a newer game and used more advanced effects when making his mouth move) but there's still something about the way his face stays alarmingly still while his features are moving...
* Talked about in ''[[The Game Overthinker]]'' episode [http://gameoverthinker.blogspot.com/2009/06/episode-twenty-four-reality-sucks-aka.html "Reality Sucks"]. He uses [[Mega Man (video game)|Mega Man]] as the "[[Robot Buddy|humanoid but not trying to pass]]" left side, and [[The Sarah Connor Chronicles|Cameron]] as the "[[Ridiculously-Human Robots|so lifelike as to trigger empathy]]" right side. Joan Rivers represents the Valley and after all that plastic surgery, the [[Take That]] is perfectly [[Justified Trope|justified]].
* Intentionally used by [[YouTube]] user [http://www.youtube.com/user/stoolsoftenercapsule stoolsoftenercapsule], who used to be known as "MrChriddof" before inexplicably closing that account in late March 2010.
* Zappos.com ads you may see around the internet. Including this very site.
* The pictures of Frank the goat on [[Live Journal]]'s 404 pages.
* [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/dancing-base These things].
* The picture on the right at about 4:40 in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjGEdp__nmk this video.] Buh...
* The new improved nightmare of new [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bpg6FLerzM Bratz Webisodes]
* Everything in [http://www.cracked.com/article_18792_the-7-most-unintentionally-creepy-places-internet.html this article.]
* [http://www.cubo.cc/creepygirl/ This animation.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XpkEzJZZpI Dancing Baby]. Just...Dancing Baby.
* Cracked.com's [http://www.cracked.com/article_18867_5-creepy-ways-humans-are-plunging-into-uncanny-valley.html 5 Creepy Ways Humans Are Plunging Into The Uncanny Valley].
* [[media:farmerama_5246.png|OH GAWD THEY'RE COMING TO EAT ME!!!]]
* The name of this tumblr [http://muppetswithpeopleeyes.tumblr.com speaks for itself], and ought to warn you of the [[Schmuck Bait|horrors to come]].
* [[Memetic Mutation|Stop calling]] [[Synchro Vox|Bill O'Reilly]] a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4uj5NZS7g8 homo].
* [http://www.sporcle.com/games/sloppyjo99/manga This] Sporcle picture quiz. One of the comments even proclaimed, "Well, I'm going to have nightmares."  {{spoiler|It's a game where you have to guess celebrities whose photos have been manipulated so that they have manga-style eyes.}}
* [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/untoons This Meme], Animated characters photoshopped into [[Uncanny Valley]]. Got [[Brain Bleach]]?
* Watching this video of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJXogk0UA3I Mrs Stephen Fry] may cause you to never look at [[Stephen Fry]] the same way again.
* Memes surrounding Anonymous tend to feature this and [[Paranoia Fuel]].
* ''[[Mori no Ando]]'', [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqzt3T4R38c which doubles up as a] [[Mind Screw]].
* [[College Humor]] made an ad for the fake product "Baby's Face" and... [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVZ1CQVMSNo just watch.]
* The poser models in ''[[Grand Theft Auto Escanaba]]''. (Or 3D Movie Maker in general.) The protagonists in particular.
* The ever loved, the original [http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-173 SCP-173]. It...it's ''kinda'' vaguely humanoid...but that face. Staring at it is so hard, so awkward. You want to look away. You can't. You mustn't.  {{spoiler|You did--SNAP!}}
* Don't watch [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRZ2Sh5-XuM this] at night alone. You were warned.
** Here's some [[Nightmare Retardant]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzxzho63csU link]
* [[Deviant ART]]
** [http://thewhitelight.deviantart.com/art/Smile-for-Mr-Meatlick-37408892 Smile for Mr. Meatlick] by TheWhiteLight
** [http://lookingglassart.deviantart.com/art/Smile-126215703 Smile] by LookingGlassArt
** Lampshaded in [http://xninjared.deviantart.com/art/Style-Exercize-Meme-153388519 Style Exercize Meme] by XNinjaRed
** [http://evion.deviantart.com/art/Realistic-Weirdness-57381002 Realistic Weirdness] by evion
** This monstrocity: [http://rinners-x.deviantart.com/art/Percy-181862611 Percy] by Rinners-x.
** The original [http://lunatique-sf.deviantart.com/art/Melancholic-Princess-88531011 Melancholic Princess] by Lunatique-SF. "For some odd reason, people on the internet started circulating my painting as some kind of urban myth involving some death curse..."
* Most of the attempts at making human-shaped cakes featured on [[Cake Wrecks]]. The infamous meatloaf baby is particularly horrifying.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp8dQhyJRBs This] [[The Legend of Zelda|Zelda]] [[Fan Film]] contains the perfect storm of both [[Uncanny Valley]] ''and'' [[Off-Model]], with Link looking like he had a bad head injury and Ganondorf looking shiny. The animation itself, while decently choreographed, is jerky and unnatural, and the awful lighting makes things even worse. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRmbZf8fFXs Its] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL0olB1iZfU sequels] show little improvement, and the teaser for the next one features [[Skyward Sword|Fi]] (who already lacked proper eyes) with a misshapen head and her "Hair Hat" looking too realistic, and shots of horseback-riding that [[Narm|resembles someone riding a mechanical bull.]]
* [[Atop the Fourth Wall]] has a surprising example with {{spoiler|the Entity. It's usually [[Eldritch Abomination|the complete opposite]], until you see it take the form of 90s Kid. Never mind the fact that it's acting and talking ''utterly different'' from [[Totally Radical|what we normally associate with him]], but the fact that his eyes ''are screens of static." Not to mention that the rest of the body keeps jerking to different positions without even moving. It's an example of this not only being invoked, [[Rule of Scary|but trying to creep us out.]] '''[[Nightmare Fuel|AND IT WORKED.]]'''}}
* The [http://eschergirls.tumblr.com/ Escher Girls] blog. "This is a blog for pictures of female characters in [[Tits and Ass Pose|impossible or ridiculous poses]] or [[The Grotesque|with disturbing anatomy]] because the artists [[Fan Service|need to show teh sexy]]."
{{quote|  Okay. Audience participation! Let’s do a little experiment. 1) Lie down on your side. 2) Bend your torso up 90 degrees. 3) [[Reality Ensues|Call the paramedics]].}}
* [http://squickygameart.tumblr.com/ Squicky Game Art] blog. "...SGA brings relief from an onslaught of [[Tits and Ass Pose|broken spines]] and [[Chainmail Bikini|boob windows]]."
* So you want to hear an actual recording of Alfred, Lord Tennyson reading his famous ''Charge of the Light Brigade''? Well, okay, but you'll have to sit through the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkqUq26z1CE horrible face-warp video that the uploader apparently thought necessary].
* [[Cracked]] has [http://www.cracked.com/article_16462_7-creepiest-real-life-robots.html a list] of some real-world androids that dwell in the darkest depths of the [[Uncanny Valley]]. They even mention the trope by name. In a similar vein - [http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-real-robots-built-to-love-you-to-death/ 5 Real Robots Built to Love you to Death]. The final example is completely deliberate and was built to study the [[Uncanny Valley]] effect.
* ''[[Extra Credits]]'' has mentioned the [[Uncanny Valley]] several times. First in an episode specifically about it, then revisited in a Halloween episode and again in a recent episode about Kinect.

{{reflist}}
[[Category:Web Original]]
[[Category:Uncanny Valley]]