Dr. Midori Kitagawa University of Texas at Dallas Arts and Technology Program
Keyframe animation Motion capture animation Procedural animation
Keyframe animation Pixar: Cars (2011, 2006), Toy Story (2010, 1999, 1995), Up (2009), Wall-E (2008), Nemo (2003), Monsters’ Inc (2001) Disney: Tangled (2010) PDI/DreamWorks: Shrek (2010, 2007, 2004, 2001), How to Train Your Dragon (2010), Kanfu-panda (2008)
Motion capture animation Fox/Weta: Avatar (2010) Sony Pictures: Beowulf (2007), Monster House (2006), Polar Express (2004)
Procedural animation There are short films that are procedurally produced. No feature length animation that is entirely procedural animation. Procedural animation is often used as effect animation for live action films and 3D computer animations.
Keyframe is a drawing (image) of a key moment in an animation sequence, where the motion is at its extreme Inbetweens fill the gaps between keyframes
In traditional animation, skilled animators draw keyframes; less experienced animators draw inbetweens In 3D computer animations, animators set up parameter values for keyframes; software interpolates parameter values between keyframes for inbetweens Every motion is created by animators
Different interpolation methods create different timing Linear interpolationSpline interpolation
What is motion capture? Sampling and recording motion of humans, animals, and inanimate objects s 3D data Data can be applied to 3D computer models
Faster to produce animation than keyframing (if an established production pipeline exists) Secondary motions and all the subtle motions are captured, providing more realism
Motion is generated by a procedure, a set of rules Animator specifies rules and initial conditions and runs simulation
Provides more realism in natural phenomena than keyframing Frees animators from generating complex objects and keyframing a large number of objects
Used for effect animation for traditional animation and live action films as well as for 3D computer animation
A combination of keyframe animation, motion capture and/or procedural animation is often used to produce animations