  We formulate the generation of finite dimensional pointed Hopf algebras by
group-like elements and skew-primitives in geometric terms. This is done
through a more general study of connected and coconnected Hopf algebras inside
a braided fusion category $\mathcal{C}$. We describe such Hopf algebras as
orbits for the action of a reductive group on an affine variety. We then show
that the closed orbits are precisely the orbits of Nichols algebras, and that
all other algebras are therefore deformations of Nichols algebras. For the case
where the category $\mathcal{C}$ is the category $^G_G\mathcal{YD}$ of
Yetter-Drinfeld modules over a finite group $G$, this reduces the question of
generation by group-like elements and skew-primitives to a geometric question
about rigidity of orbits. Comparing the results of Angiono Kochetov and
Mastnak, this gives a new proof for the generation of finite dimensional
pointed Hopf algebras with abelian groups of group-like elements by
skew-primitives and group-like elements. We show that if $V$ is a simple object
in $\mathcal{C}$ and $\text{B}(V)$ is finite dimensional, then $\text{B}(V)$
must be rigid. We also show that a non-rigid Nichols algebra can always be
deformed to a pre-Nichols algebra or a post-Nichols algebra which is isomorphic
to the Nichols algebra as an object of the category $\mathcal{C}$.
