In my recent experience, KLM and Swiss are the best - no actors, completely animated and informative. While delta and united were the most cringe - weird actors and special effects and why is she smiling 100% of the time during an emergency?
As far as I can tell, they use real crew to present the concept, so maybe that doesn't as any actors, but it is definitely not completely animated.
They have the exotic settings that the article mentions, though.
I always assumed this was one of those American cultural things, akin to how waiters in the US always are super cheery and excited to serve you. (In an obviously artificial way)
The author of the article is a bit of a jittery flier (a go-around was their come-to-Jesus moment? come on), but fine, whatever makes people pay attention to basic safety information. It doesn't need to be much: know where the emergency exits are, how to open them if necessary, and don't take your cabin luggage, and you'll already be ahead of most.