I have to say, I really dig 'em both (there's another in the article headline). A very unique effect.

Agreed. A picture of a human motionless except for one body part === uncanny valley.

I know! Is this some new NPR web thing? I think I prefer the Times' full-screen hard-to-control multimedia extravaganzas. At least they look good. :b

Off topic: How do these animated gifs cope with the 256 colour limit?

I kept looking at the older gents behind him to move/speak/scratch but I just kept seeing that guys hand move :-/