Proof of concept

A proof of concept is a short and/or incomplete realization of a certain method or idea(s) to demonstrate its feasibility.

The proof of concept is usually considered a milestone on the way of a fully functioning prototype.

Example: Pixar

The computer animation specialists Pixar sometimes create short animated films that include a proof of concept of a technically difficult task. Their short film Geri's Game (1997) included proofs of concept of the animation of cloth and of human facial expressions. These techniques were later used in the film Toy Story 2 (1999).

Similarly, in preparation for the creation of the film Finding Nemo (2003), the team created several short proofs of concept to experiment with the animation of water movement, the tentacles of a sea anemone, and the slow appearance of a whale swimming toward the camera from a long distance. These proofs of concept demonstrated ways for the team to accomplish difficult technical tasks, or proved that a particular creative concept "worked" (or didn't work).