Andy Serkis helps create 3D animated avatar of a real Neanderthal

The Hollywood star collaborated with scientists and the Natural History Museum.

Published May 10, 2018

Last updated May 10, 2018

Lord Of The Rings star Andy Serkis has helped create a 3D animated avatar of a real Neanderthal.

The Hollywood star collaborated with scientists and the Natural History Museum for a BBC Two series.

The CGI Neanderthal is based on a skull, nicknamed Ned, which was found in a cave in Iraq.

Andy Serkis CGI creation (VixPix/BBC/Natural History Museum) — Andy Serkis creating Ned’s facial expressions(VixPix/BBC/Natural History Museum)

The avatar of Ned’s body is based on a skeleton, which suffered a lower arm amputation, of a Neanderthal from the Smithsonian Museum.

The CGI Neanderthal (VixPix/BBC/Natural History Museum)

The series, presented by Ella Al-Shamahi, explores new research on “the Neanderthal mind”, examines evidence of possible Neanderthal art in the sea caves of Gibraltar and an “apparent penchant for dressing up in vulture feathers”.

Andy Serkis helping to create a CGI Neanderthal (Andy Serkis (VixPix/BBC/Natural History Museum)

The Natural History Museum’s human evolutions expert Professor Chris Stringer said: “I never thought it would be possible to bring a Neanderthal to life with so much scientific accuracy.

Ned's skull (Andy Serkis helping to create a CGI Neanderthal (Andy Serkis (VixPix/BBC/Natural History Museum) — Ned’s skull (Andy Serkis helping to create a CGI Neanderthal (Andy Serkis (VixPix/BBC/Natural History Museum)

Neanderthals: Meet Your Ancestors begins at 8pm on Sunday on BBC Two.