Netflix's festive hit, Man Vs Baby, has captivated audiences, but one question has dominated viewer discussions: was that adorable, chaotic infant real? The show, starring Rowan Atkinson as the hapless Trevor Bingley, sees the return of the character after 2022's Man Vs Bee and has soared to the number one spot on the platform's charts.
The Director's Revelation: A Blend of Reality and AI
Director David Kerr has now pulled back the curtain, confirming that while real child actors were present, the production employed pioneering techniques to achieve the series' ambitious comedy. In an interview with LBB, Kerr explained the multifaceted approach needed because, as he noted, "a six-month-old isn’t going to take direction." Strict regulations also limit infants to a maximum of two hours on set each day.
To overcome these challenges, the team cast identical twins for the role, allowing for more flexible filming schedules. However, the real technological magic came from visual effects and artificial intelligence. Kerr and VFX supervisor Rob Duncan utilised CGI and machine learning (ML), a subset of AI, to enhance the babies' performances and create specific expressions on demand.
At the Cutting Edge of Performance Capture
Kerr described the process as pushing the boundaries of what's possible. "What we attempted to do is right at the cutting edge," he stated, recalling discussions with Duncan. The goal was to create a fully digital baby that was indistinguishable from the real ones but could perform any required action.
The method began with an intensive performance capture session. Five cameras were trained on each of the 'hero' babies for several hours, aiming to record a complete range of expressions from waking to sleeping. This data library then fed the machine learning and CGI processes, enabling the team to craft the infant's most hilarious and perilous moments in the four-part Christmas special.
While AI was a crucial tool, Kerr confirmed it was not used in every scene. The final product is a seamless blend of authentic moments with the twin babies and digitally enhanced sequences, all coming together to create the chaotic charm that has made Man Vs Baby one of Netflix's biggest new successes this season.
