Case Studies

The Electric State (2025)

Actor Capture: Bringing Life to the Robots of The Electric State

Actor Capture served as the dedicated motion capture team for The Electric State, delivering a comprehensive performance capture solution that seamlessly bridged live-action filmmaking and cutting-edge visual effects.

On set and On Location Xsens Motion Capture

Working closely with the production and colleagues, Actor Capture operated Xsens inertial motion capture live and fully in-camera, capturing robot performances on set alongside principal photography with stars Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, and Jason Alexander.

Volume Operation & Performance-Driven Optical Capture

Beyond on-set capture, Actor Capture also engineered and operated a Vicon optical motion capture volume consisting of 60 cameras, capturing more than 1,500 takes of action and stunt performances in a dedicated Atlanta studio. These sessions were conducted in collaboration with Digital Domain and ILM, ensuring the highest fidelity data for complex character animation and physically demanding sequences.

This innovative approach allowed the motion capture troupe—led by legendary movement director Terry Notary, renowned for his work on Planet of the Apes and other landmark productions—to embody the film’s many robotic characters in real time. The result was a natural integration of physical performance, actor interaction, and directorial intent during live-action shooting.

On The Electric State, Actor Capture worked hand-in-hand with Notary to support a motion capture troupe tasked with portraying a wide range of robotic characters—each with distinct silhouettes, movement logic, and emotional presence.

Actor Capture’s role extended beyond operating technology; the team helped create an environment where performers could fully commit to character under Notary’s leadership.

Integration with World-Class VFX Pipelines

Actor Capture delivered fully processed and production-ready optical motion data to Digital Domain and ILM, ensuring seamless integration into their animation and simulation pipelines. Data consistency between optical sessions and on-set inertial capture allowed VFX teams to maintain performance continuity across environments.

Actor Capture also provided motion direction support and data coordination to the Netflix VFX team and AGBO, led by the Russo Brothers, aligning captured performances with editorial, previs, and final animation needs.

Motion Capture Anywhere, Not Just a Stage

A defining aspect of Actor Capture’s work on The Electric State was adaptability. While the Vicon volume served as the backbone for studio-based capture, the team also supported motion capture across 40 locations, from controlled soundstages to outdoor and uneven terrain. This hybrid strategy ensured that optical capture quality and performance intent were preserved, regardless of environment.

Precision, Scale, and Storytelling

Actor Capture’s use of optical and inertial motion capture on The Electric State demonstrated how large-scale, technically rigorous systems can still serve storytelling. By pairing robust systems with expert performance direction and flexible deployment, Actor Capture delivered motion data that was not only technically precise, but emotionally readable—helping bring the film’s robots to life with weight, intention, and cinematic presence.

The Electric State debuted at #1 on Netflix and has been short-listed for a VFX Oscar at the 2026 Academy Awards, underscoring the impact of its ambitious performance capture and visual effects work. Actor Capture is honored to have contributed motion capture services to Netflix, AGBO, ILM, and Digital Domain, helping bring the world—and robots—of The Electric State vividly to life.