live-action

[ lahyv-ak-shuhn ]

adjective

1. of or relating to movies, videos, and the like, that feature real performers, as distinguished from animation:

   A new live-action version of the classic animated film will be released later this year.

2. Informal. live ²( def 8 ).

Other Words From

• live action noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of live-action¹

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

As Fox’s “The Simpsons” has shown, the animated family sitcom can go toe to toe with live-action: Without being “real,” they can still be exactly right.

From Los Angeles Times

Although “Maria” will get a limited theatrical release on Nov. 27 before streaming, its box-office take is unlikely to approach that of Jolie’s biggest live-action hits, which include a pair of “Maleficent” films and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.”

From Los Angeles Times

The deceptively simple-looking “Ghost Cat Anzu” is actually idiosyncratically drawn from live-action frames in a rotoscoping process.

From Los Angeles Times

Nobuhiro Yamashita first directed the scenes in live-action, with the actors sometimes outfitted in the outlandish costumes of the remarkably designed, magical characters.

From Los Angeles Times

The star of Disney's upcoming "Snow White" remake shared an apology to Instagram on Friday, shortly after conservative commentator Megyn Kelly called for her to be removed from the live-action retelling.

From Salon