[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLiX5d3rC6o] Some are suggesting that this CGI animated "Emily" created by the folks behind Grand Theft Auto demonstrates the first or among the first animations to have "overleapt a long-standing barrier known as 'uncanny valley' - which refers to the perception that animation looks less realistic as it approaches human likeness."
While it is a truly remarkable step forward for computer animation, I think there are still some disconcerting "tells" that, particularly around the eyelids it seems there is an unnatural rigidness, says that "Emily" may be near the valley but has yet to cross it. Keep in mind that only her face is animated, while the rest is that of a real actress (Emily O'Brien) - you can see her non-animated self on soap opera, The Young and the Restless.
I predict that this technology will be at the forefront of the next generation game consoles, PS4 and Xbox ...540, and while the uncanny valley then will still be a formidable barrier, at that point I believe that actual gameplay will FINALLY look exactly like the notoriously misleading pre-rendered animation that consumers sees in video games' promotional trailers and cutscenes. Nonetheless, as the Wii has demonstrated innovative and most importantly FUN gameplay ought to take a front seat to graphics and visual eye candy.