At the San Diego Comic Con 2014, there was what they call an hologram of Homer Simpson, but is this a real hologram? Or was it, perhaps, just a projection on the wall? I thought that the hologram technology was far from those kind of impressing results!? If it's really hologram technology, how does it work?
-
A rear-projection screen is likely, but I can't find any information with a casual search as to how this particular projection was achieved.– Brian SJul 29, 2014 at 15:21
-
2You might find this really interesting m.youtube.com/watch?v=GBucCNH78q4– The very fluffy PandaJul 30, 2014 at 2:21
-
For those who don't want to follow the YouTube link, it is another animated character appearing on stage in a music video.– Oddthinking ♦Jul 31, 2014 at 21:17
1 Answer
It was likely the Pepper's Ghost effect, used several times since 2006 to project figures on-stage. (Gorillaz in 2006, Tupac in 2012 and 2013, and Michael Jackson in 2014.
Calling this effect a "hologram" is common, but a misnomer: (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/why-billboard-music-awards-michael-706269)
The imagery of Jackson -- and previously Tupac during his "performance" at Coachella in 2012 -- was actually created with an old magician's trick using a mirror, a 2D effect known as "Pepper's Ghost."
Since the Pepper's Ghost technique has been sufficient to produce this effect in the past, there is no reason to posit a technological leap for this instance.