Character Animation Technologies Ltd. released its latest version of CAT, the fully integrated, next-generation character animation plug-in for 3ds Max. CAT 1.4 provides animation professionals in games development, film, video and broadcast with an advanced toolset that transforms the way character animation is done, resulting in greater flexibility for the artist and much more efficient production times.
Brad Bowling, animation lead at Rainbow Studios in Phoenix, Arizona (creators of games such as MX UNLEASHED, MX VS. ATV UNLEASHED and ATV OFFROAD FURY 2), said, CATs ability to import motion capture data has become an indispensable addition to our animation pipeline. Using the Capture Animation functionality we have been able to implement MoCap data from a number of different sources, including old Character Studio files. Basically, if you can get the animation into 3ds Max you can apply it to a CAT skeleton."
We worked closely with Rainbow Studios to create a motion capture system that would fulfill their heavy production requirements, and we are delighted with the result. added Scott Pearson, ceo of Character Animation Technologies. Meanwhile, the fact that our system will import motion from BIP files can only be a big bonus for studios who want to leverage off CATs superior character toolset and dont want to sacrifice their BIP libraries.
CAT allows artists to create any rig configuration in minutes; its procedural walkcycle system means that walk sequences that took days can now be achieved in less than an hour; keyframing is faster and more intuitively than ever before; moving from FK to IK blends is curve controlled for seamless blends; CATs superior non-linear animation system allows for greatly improved flexibility as well as efficiency.
CAT 1.4 highlights include:
* BIP file motion import Load the motion from your BIP files onto your CATRig.
* New HTR motion capture importer New, solid HTR importer.
* New BVH importer New, powerful BVH file importer imports most BVH files including the common Character Studio BVH flavor.
* FBX importer Imports FBX files onto CATRigs.
* Motion auto mapping The Capture Animation script now has a greatly improved auto-mapping feature that generally maps the motion data straight onto your CATRig right first time. User friendly drag and drop functionality allows the user to edit further as required.
* Save Mapping Presets Capture Animation also allows the user to save their character mapping presets, allowing for batch processing and removing repetition.
* Color coded mapping This new rig coloring method shows which bones have motion data assigned to them on import to facilitate with problem solving.
CAT 1.4 is currently available as a plug-in for customers running at least Autodesk 3ds Max 5. Priced at $995 (note that certain MoCap functionality only works with 3ds Max 6&7), the software can be purchased directly from Character Animation Technologies at www.catoolkit.com and through select Autodesk resellers www.catoolkit.com/resellers/default.asp. For existing CAT customers the upgrade to CAT 1.4 is no charge.
Character Animation Technologies Ltd. (www.catoolkit.com), founded in 2002 by two Emmy-award nominated animators, is a New Zealand-based developer of next-generation character animation software.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
