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Animating with Motion Capture

 

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 In 2004, as part of the CRATE Internship Program, an animated short for High Definition (HD) television was created. The subject was to teach science to fourth, fifth and sixth graders through entertaining animation. Three subjects, “Chemistry in the Kitchen”, “Baseball Science” and “Batteries”, introduced kids to science with easy to understand dialogue, creative animation and engaging questions. While “Chemistry in the Kitchen” was the only short to be fully completed; motion capture, dialogue and characters were completed for all three shorts.

What is motion capture?
Watch the “Making of” Chemistry in the Kitchen on YouTube.This video gives an inside look at the motion capture process. Motion capture or performance capture is the process that allows animation artists to use real actors to perform in a 3D animated world. Motion capture has been used in major motion pictures such as Lord of the Rings , Polar Express and the upcoming Monster House produced by Stephen Spielberg. In special suits, actors are outfitted with small reflectors that cameras stationed around the room detect by high powered flashing LEDs. Samantha Bratton being “outfitted” for facial capture.
 

Angie Payne merged with 3D Marta Samantha Bratton with face reflectors

Reflectors were placed on Kent Walker’s hand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preparation for the motion capture was exciting and strenuous. The 2004 project focused on each team member gaining experience in every aspect of the animation, from script development to final editing. With this focus, every member participated in the motion capture process. Walker, Bratton, Smith, Gehlhausen and Teffetalor became actors for the motion capture while the rest of the team directed.

Heath Gehlhausen performs the mandatory “T” pose that allows 3D characters to be aligned with the real actors; Because of the minimal amount of props allowed - the sets had to be taped so that the actors knew where walls, counters, appliances, etc... were.

To see “Chemistry in the Kitchen” on YouTube click here. For more information about the Animating with Motion Capture project visit the CRATE project 2004.