Types of3D Computer Animation

Dr. Midori KitagawaUniversity of Texas at Dallas

Arts and Technology Program

Keyframe animationMotion capture animationProcedural animation

Types of 3D computer animation

Keyframe animationPixar: 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)

Feature length animation examples

Motion capture animationFox/Weta: Avatar (2010)Sony Pictures: Beowulf (2007), Monster House

(2006), Polar Express (2004)

Feature length animation examples

Procedural animationThere 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.

Feature length animation examples

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

Keyframe animation

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

Keyframe animation

Different interpolation methods create different timing

 

Keyframe animation

Linear interpolation

Spline 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

Motion capture animation

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 capture animation

Motion is generated by a procedure, a set of rules

Animator specifies rules and initial conditions and runs simulation

Procedural animation

Provides more realism in natural phenomena than keyframing

Frees animators from generating complex objects and keyframing a large number of objects

Procedural animation

Used for effect animation for traditional animation and live action films as well as for 3D computer animation

Procedural animation

A combination of keyframe animation, motion capture and/or procedural animation is often used to produce animations

Types of animation

Midori Kitagawa, Ph.D.midori@utdallas.edu