People in the 70's and 80's did amazing things in special effects. Steven Spielberg and special effects master Carlo Rambaldi, in E.T., brought to life a lead character who we identify with on the deepest level, who is one of two central lead characters in the movie, entirely through special effects, without the help of live-action reference, and with minimal help from voice-acting.
CGI today can do incredible things.
However, CGI is not a magic bullet.
You still need to put the work in and master the craft.
However, if you put the work in and master the craft, there are very few limits to what CGI can do.
But it might take a bit of time to do them.
CGI is basically animation. Computer animation, as in Pixar and Dreamworks.
There is very little limits to what animation can do.
However, to unlock the deeper, less superficial, less 'special-effects-y' potentials of CGI, it takes some time.
It takes three times as long to make an animated movie than it takes to make a live-action movie.
Fairly ambitious live-action movies are often made in a single year.
It takes three years to make a good animated movie.
And so while there is very little limit to what CGI can accomplish, to unlock the deeper, less superficial, less 'special effects-y' potentials requires taking a lot more time on the CGI animation than you would normally take on the special effects in a live-action movie.
Also, you need to play by animation's rules. Lead characters in animation are usually brought to life while drawing extensively upon voice work and live-action reference.
Something like Steven Spielberg and Carlo Rambaldi did in E.T., with minimal voice acting and live-action reference, is much harder.
However, if you are willing to play by animation's rules, and take the time to do it right, there is very little limit to what CGI can do.
Take a look at James Cameron's Avatar movies.
James Cameron took twice as long to make Avatar as it usually takes to make even an animated movie, and it shows.
You simply cannot duplicate what James Cameron did in Avatar unless you are willing to put years of work into the CGI.
Simply throwing money at the CGI won't do it for you.
However, if you are willing to put in the years of work, and you are willing to rely on live-action reference and incorperate voice acting where it makes sense, there is very little limit to what CGI can do.
The history of animation shows this.
Just look at movies like The Secret of NIMH, and All Dogs Go To Heaven, and so many of Miyazaki's movies!
If you are willing to put the work in, and use live-action reference and voice acting where it makes sense, this is where CGI can take you!
But you must be willing to put in the years of work, just like James Cameron did in the Avatar movies!
Food for thought!
God loves you!
Sincerely,
David S. Annderson