files/pictures/picture-23.jpgAnimators in the TV, Film, and Video Game industries are achieving realistic 3D character animation economically and quickly using the suite of motion capture tools available from Motion Analysis Corporation of Santa Rosa, California. At SIGGRAPH 99, the company demonstrated the latest versions of its products.
"We have customers using our ExpertVision system to capture 1,000 moves a
week to produce a 22-minute TV show in only 10 days using just a dozen
animators. The economy and efficiency of producing digital entertainment
this way is unprecedented," says Tom Whitaker, President of Motion Analysis
Corporation.
Motion Analysis demonstrated the following products and
capabilities:
- LIVE REAL-TIME CAMERA/CHARACTER TRACKING with ExpertVision. The
ExpertVision system simultaneously captures actors and the position of a
roving camera in areas up to 40' x 50'. These images are instantly available
to digital characters viewed from the perspective of the camera. This
provides directors and producers with absolute control over fully
computer-animated scenes.
- LIVE REAL-TIME CHARACTER ANIMATION using MAYA, 3D Studio MAX, Typhoon and
FiLMBOX.
- INTERACTIVE TOOLS for scaling, re-targeting and editing motion capture
data. This data can then be utilized by MAYA, 3D Studio MAX, LightWave,
Softimage, Typhoon, FilmBox and other animation packages.
- LARGE AREA, MULTIPLE ACTOR CAPTURE using up to 32 cameras. In this
configuration, ExpertVision captures up to 4 characters simultaneously in
areas over 100' long. This makes it possible to choreograph elaborate
football, soccer and action/adventure animations.
- PHOTO-REALISTIC FACE AND HAND CAPTURE can now be achieved with the same
system that captures bodies.
The company has also setup a worldwide network of service laboratories through independent Motion Analysis-equipped studios in cities including Los
Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Taipei, Beijing, Seoul, and
Tokyo.
For more information contact Motion Analysis via phone: 707-579-6500 at visit their website at:
www.MotionAnalysis.com
