India, Feb. 20 -- CGI and motion capture are replacing many traditional animal actors in film and television

Activist investigations and on-set controversies have intensified scrutiny of animal welfare

Digital animals allow greater creative freedom - including more graphic depictions of violence

A hybrid model blending live animals and visual effects is emerging across major productions

There is a long and storied history of nonhuman actors, from Luke, the dog of silent star Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, to the collies cast in the role of Lassie in film and on television. Bart the Bear racked up over 20 film and TV credits in the 1980s and 1990s, while countless horses have supported period dramas that now saturate streaming services.

But...