With increasing technology capabilities, video game creators are getting ever better at coming up with realistic animations. In this day and age, developers can now look to famous celebrities to make cameo appearances in their games through animation. The Mass Effect series is one of the biggest series to feature animated characters based around celebrities. Beyond: Two Souls is also shaping up to utilise a few familiar celebrity faces to push their product further. Now by animation, I mean at minimum facial animation coupled together with said celebrity lending their vocal talents to the related character too. This helps bring out the awe that gamers are indeed interacting with these familiar faces. With all this in mind, here are the nominees for the top 5 celebrities that need video game animations. Through no fault of my own, they all ended up being female celebrities…
5) Natalie Portman
The alluring Natalie Portman starts off this list. Many proclaim the innocence and charm of Ms. Portman are what endures her to many. How can one deny this, when even Darth Vader himself fell for her? In the video game world, Ms. Portman could easily portray the role of a royal/noble in a medieval or fantasy setting, with perhaps a touch of cruelty injected into her character to show off a darker side. I have no doubt that Ms. Portman can pull off a splendid job as a voice actress too.
4) Kate Beckinsale
The vampire hunter vixen comes in at number 4 in this list. An easy fit for her would be to reprise her role in the Underworld movie by way of a proper video game tie-in. Whether she is the main protagonist or an important npc you meet along the way, I’m pretty sure she would still be a badass character. Potential roles aren’t just related to that particular tie-in though. I can definitely see her in a similar role as Catwoman in a new Batman game too.
3) Angelina Jolie
It’s a bit weird promoting a celebrity who has played a video game character on the big screen. In the minds of many, Angelina Jolie is the only saving grace of the Tomb Raider movies. Lara Croft however has a distinct look in the video game world that it may prove impossible to cast Ms. Jolie in the role of Lara Croft in a Tomb Raider video game. Not to worry though as Ms. Jolie has a massive amount of talent and could pull off a video game character in almost any situation. From an action packed heroin to a stone-cold assassin, Ms. Jolie has the ability to back up any role thrown at her. Personally, I’d love to see Ms. Jolie in a more dramatic role akin to a political leader dealing with internal strife with as much elegance as possible. She’s a major talent that game developers could really utilise.
2) Alison Brie
Alison Brie is perhaps a name not too familiar to many, but she always stands out in her TV roles. Ms. Brie is a cool and witty character and I have no doubt this could easily transfer over to the video game world. Her options for roles might not be as huge as some other celebrities on this list, but one role that should suit her is as a party member in an RPG. I simply feel like Ms. Brie can portray the kind of laid-back yet chirpy character that can liven up a party atmosphere. Where better to test that out than in a party-based RPG itself? It’s not like it would be too unfamiliar to Ms. Brie; check out her role-playing performance in the ‘Advanced Dungeons And Dragons’ episode of the TV show Community.
1) Scarlett Johansson
Finally, we come to one of the most consistently nominated sexiest female celebrities in recent times, Scarlett Johansson. The lovely Ms. Johansson has also appeared in various roles in movies and would seem like an easy fit in the video game world. I have no doubt she could portray a character in an action oriented game akin to her role as Black Widow in The Avengers. I do feel though that Ms. Johansson could also be great in an RPG with a role as a party member. RPGs tend to allow a player to get to know and grow to like the characters in the game world a lot more easily than in other genres. I feel like Ms. Johansson could easily fit that role and bring out the best in her character. She’s another major Hollywood talent that game developers could really utilise.
So what say you? Do you have your own opinions on celebrities that should be utilised in video games?
…interesting…