The Walking Dead: PETA gives award for Shiva

The Walking Dead received an Innovation in Television Award from PETA for its use of CGI and animatronics for Shiva instead of using a real tiger.

With the introduction of The Kingdom, Ezekiel and Shiva, many wondered how The Walking Dead would pull of having a tiger on the show. They have decided to go with pure effects using animatronics and CGI.

Shiva roared onto the screen for the first time in the trailer for season 7 at San Diego International Comic-Con last weekend. She was magnificent even if she was not real.

According to Robert Kirkman during the panel at Comic-Con, they made a decision to go full visual and practical effects instead of adding in a real tiger.

"“Gale pointed out that it’s not particularly humane to have a live tiger on set, and is also very dangerous for the actors. So I was like great, no real tiger, I can still come to set. That sounds awesome. Because I would not have gone to set if there had been a real tiger anywhere near set. So there’s no real tiger involved. It’s all magic.”"

PETA issued a press release honoring The Walking Dead for the decision. Part of the release includes this statement from PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange:

"“By choosing the excitement of cutting-edge technology instead of captive animals, ‘The Walking Dead’ has won the respect of everyone who objects to condemning wild animals to live chained and in cages as well as making them perform under the threat of a whip. PETA will press all television networks to follow AMC’s compassionate lead.”"

Acting with the imaginary Shiva is not a problem in the least for her master, King Ezekiel, played by Khary Payton. Shiva is real to him. Payton talked about this issue with Entertainment Weekly:

"It’s just another beautiful way that I get to use my imagination. As far as I’m concerned, Shiva’s as real as the people standing next to me — as Morgan or Carol or any of the other people who move among the Kingdom itself. So I really don’t think of it as CG or mechanic. All I know is that she’s real to me. I’ve done a lot of video games where there’s literally nothing standing in front of me. I’ve done, you know, a lot of voiceovers where there’s literally nothing standing in front of me, I’ve got to make it all up, so this is just another situation where my imagination gets to be used in another context, so no matter how good they bring it to life, it’s already alive in my head."

Next: Khary Payton on his role as Ezekiel

Congratulations to AMC and The Walking Dead for the PETA honor. We can’t wait to meet Shiva. She will be as real to us as any character in The Walking Dead. And they are all larger than life.

The Walking Dead returns on October 23.