Gus' ears are one of the most charming elements of Netflix's Sweet Tooth, and they've left fans wondering how they work and if they're CGI. Sweet Tooth introduces an interconnected story revolving around a young boy named Gus (Christian Convery), a hybrid born with deer antlers. In Gus' world, a terrible virus has ravaged the human population, and many blame human-animal hybrids, such as Gus, for causing the disease. Some people even think they could hold the cure. Amid this dangerous place, Gus sets out to find his mother, and he meets up with two new friends, Big Man (Nonso Anozie) and Bear (Stefania LaVie Owen), to help him on his journey.
In addition to Gus' story, Sweet Tooth introduces several subplots showing how others deal with hybrids and the changing world. For instance, Aimee (Dania Ramirez) runs a secret shelter for hybrids, helping to save the creatures from being killed or harvested by General Abbot (Neil Sandilands) and his army of Last Men. Additionally, Abbot tasks Dr. Singh (Adeel Akhtar) with killing hybrids and using them to find the cure for the mysterious virus. However, Singh struggles with this. Killing children (even ones that are part animal) goes against his moral compass. But his wife, Rani (Aliza Vellani), is infected with the disease, and his work could also save her.
When it comes to Sweet Tooth, Gus' ears are one of the most magical elements. Throughout the show, Gus' deer ears twitch and move almost like they have a mind of their own. And, according to Gus actor Christian Convery, they do in a way. While answering fan questions and giving news for DC FanDome (via YouTube), Convery went into detail about how the ears work. The actor said they are hooked up to a rig and controlled by a puppeteer. Convery puts on a skull cap, which connects to the deer ears, and he works with the puppeteer to bring them to life in scenes. There's no CGI needed.
Convery's explanation may reveal why the ears are so charming. Though the importance of CGI in movie and TV effects can't be understated, it can also make things appear fake and impersonal. On the other hand, practical effects allow actors to interact with their surroundings, making sequences that feel more realistic. So on Sweet Tooth, the actors can interact with Gus' hybrid deer ears and respond to them. For instance, in Sweet Tooth episode 2, "Sorry About All The Dead People," Gus meets a friend who scratches his ears, causing a humorous scene where his leg twitches. With CGI, the moment might not quite work.
The reveal is somewhat surprising. After all, CGI gives producers and editors more control, allowing scenes to be tweaked and changed in post-production. As a result, practical effects are more unpredictable. However, in the case of Sweet Tooth, the functional ears make sense. And with the show already dealing with a post-apocalyptic world full of half-animal and half-human kids, CGI ears should be the least of its worries.