Motion Capture in Film Production - Acting or Animation?

by Mary Hobson
mary.hobson@theanimationschoolreview.com
Animation Columnist

Motion capture is a technique that was first developed in the 1970s, but reached its greatest heights in the late 1990s. It allows special effects in films that are incredibly life-like, with all the levels of characterization and motion that could not be achieved with previous technologies.

Adding Characters at the Post- Production Stage

So what exactly is motion capture - or mocap as it is increasingly called? According to Wikipedia, it is a technique of digitally recording the movements of real things. Once the motion data is captured, it can be mapped onto animation characters. The characters can then move as if they were real - almost impossible to do with other artificially created motion. The classic example is Gollum in the film production of The Lord of the Rings. The character is animated, but his movements and expressions are entirely lifelike.

How Motion Capture Works

Motion capture works by having an actor "wired up" to record their movements - typically with markers working on either optical or magnetic technology. As the actor moves, the markers are recorded using an array of cameras to record the motion from every aspect. The result is a recording the movement rather than the image of the actor. This movement is then mapped onto a 3D model of the character that is shown in the film production.

Film production using these techniques can be revolutionary, as we have seen in films such as The Matrix and Lord of the Rings. Lifelike animated characters are possible in a short length of time, with animation added in the post-production stage of film production.

Suddenly your imagination has a rival!

About the Author

Mary Hobson is a consultant for technology start-ups in Russia. She has also worked as an executive officer in a defense facility and as a university lecturer in computer science and management information. Mary earned her first degree in textile marketing and subsequently studied education and computer science at a Master's degree level.

Source

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_capture
• http://web.mit.edu/comm-forum/papers/furniss.html