With the proliferation of 3D sensors and the development of large-scale 3D data, visual perception based on 3D reconstruction and understanding has received much attention. Meanwhile, intelligent graphics also leads a breakthrough in active interaction, becoming task-driven and targeting both virtual and real environments. In this sense, computer graphics, which is traditionally a field of information expression, is now expanding into the territory of information sensing. The interaction of computer graphics is also moving towards active interaction driven by intelligent tasks. Alongside this trend, data-driven analysis and modeling of 3D data, especially the corresponding online techniques, have been playing a critical role. This article expounded on active 3D perception and interaction from the perspective of the fusion between graphics and vision, along with several concrete research examples. A special emphasis was put on the advantages and challenges of being active for 3D perception and 3D interaction, and tentative explorations were made on the open problems and trends along this direction.