Info on Sony Imageworks MONSTER HOUSE "Performance Capture" CG FILM

[gunslingerblack]

haha performance capture what a joke, motion capture and facial animation capture in one step hooray for that im relieved. it's already been said in the original thread but taking something already made and calling it something different and saying u made it is theft...isn't it....

[Shaderhacker]

haha performance capture what a joke, motion capture and facial animation capture in one step hooray for that im relieved. it's already been said in the original thread but taking something already made and calling it something different and saying u made it is theft...isn't it....

:applause:

[FloydBishop]

Question: How can you make an animated film without animation?

Answer: YOU CAN'T!!

[amygdalae]

Question: How can you make an animated film without animation?

Answer: YOU CAN'T!!


Uh, there's actually quite a bit of non-captured animation, and about 40 very good animators working on it. Mocap is just a starting point. Nice trolling.

[RobertoOrtiz]

People lets keep the thread light.

-R

[agreenster]

I want to see a trailer. I love Holloween movies.

Hey Amy, dont get too worked up about the posts here. Many of us are animators so we feel threatened sometimes by technology that could replace us (even though you cant replace good animation with a mocap system, I know I know). Just take it with a grain of salt. Most of these guys also love Gollum, but just forget that he was partially motion captured.

We all know that motion capture doesnt get you all the way there. Its just a starting point.

[FloydBishop]

Uh, there's actually quite a bit of non-captured animation, and about 40 very good animators working on it. Mocap is just a starting point. Nice trolling.

There was no mention of non-captured animation, nor the 40 animators in the press release that was linked to.

I'm not saying the animators suck or anything like that. Quite the opposite. Animators are what make an animated film, not this perfomance capture stuff, or whatever it's called this week.

When companies put out press releases like this that belittle or don't even mention the animators involved in an animated film, it's an insult to not only the animators on the project, but animators everywhere.

[amygdalae]

There was no mention of non-captured animation, nor the 40 animators in the press release that was linked to.

I'm not saying the animators suck or anything like that. Quite the opposite. Animators are what make an animated film, not this perfomance capture stuff, or whatever it's called this week.

When companies put out press releases like this that belittle or don't even mention the animators involved in an animated film, it's an insult to not only the animators on the project, but animators everywhere.

When pixar issues press releases do they quote the number of animators on the film and go into detailed specifics of workflow and pipeline?
It's just a press release about the 3D release. What people who have never worked on large mocap projects dont seem to realize is that it doesnt take work away from animators. It actually takes more people, more time, more pipeline, and more animation to get a mocap film done. It's ignorant to think you just shoot it and plug it in, animate the camera and you're done.

[mangolass]

When pixar issues press releases do they quote the number of animators on the film and go into detailed specifics of workflow and pipeline? It's just a press release about the 3D release. What people who have never worked on large mocap projects dont seem to realize is that it doesnt take work away from animators. It actually takes more people, more time, more pipeline, and more animation to get a mocap film done. It's ignorant to think you just shoot it and plug it in, animate the camera and you're done.

Pixar usaully describes their films as being "animated" rather than "captured" ~ not as much room for confusion. I hope the director's priority is really with encouraging the animators to create great animation, instead of trying to direct the film as live-action and tellign the animators to just clean things up and match video reference ~ it's not whether work is taken away from animators so much as whether creative control is taken away from animators that I worry about.

LT

[FloydBishop]

It's ignorant to think you just shoot it and plug it in, animate the camera and you're done.

That's my point. The press release makes it sound as simple as that.

[MarkusM]

The problem with animators in "captured" movies is that most likely the reason the choice was made was to allow directors to work with the talent on a stage. So it does become about staying "true" to that performance.

[Cageman]

haha performance capture what a joke, motion capture and facial animation capture in one step hooray for that im relieved. it's already been said in the original thread but taking something already made and calling it something different and saying u made it is theft...isn't it....

Facial animation capture and motion capture are different beasts to manage. Now, capture both these at the same time and you have tons of data to process, which does make the pipline alot different from normal MoCap and facial animation capture (normaly done separate from each other). I think that Performance Capture is a good name for the combined techniques.

[gunslingerblack]

i just hated the fact that the director of the polar express was taking credit for developing a "totally new system" thats the "joke" part of it

[Ckerr812]

People lets keep the thread light.

-R

I dunno, she seems to be eating a lot of chips. Packs on the pounds you know.

Anywho, anytime a film has to announce the great technical advancements it has, usally means it's going to fail....why? Cause it shouldn't eclipse a great story. If it does, you have a failure waiting to happen.

[Antropus]

I just hope this movie will not become another "Polar expressionless". Leave the facial animation stuff for your great team of animators and everything should be fine :deal:

Kris

[MarkusM]

i just hated the fact that the director of the polar express was taking credit for developing a "totally new system" thats the "joke" part of it

Welcome to Hollywood. Standard practise it seems.

[Lorex]

It actually takes more people, more time, more pipeline, and more animation to get a mocap film done.

What's the point, then ?

[MarkusM]

What's the point, then ?

I think you have to see it from the point of a film maker that doesn't necessarily want to make an animated movie with the traditional animated process. Instead they can similarly to the live action shoot go to a capture studio and captrue their performance in a few weeks using actors and the process they are comfortable with. Then, in a non-committal manner, they can faff with that material, and enhance it, for a very long time in production. I'd say that would sound pretty intriguing to me if I was a "traditional film maker".

Very different process. Very different product.

[Brettzies]

Very different process. Very different product.
I agree. It's a hybrid movie just like Final Fantasy and Polar. It's using cg as it's backbone is all. I guess it's predominatly captured, but it will have animation in it. These type of films will continue to be made and get better, or at least maybe more seamless. The end audience doesn't really care how it's done, as long as it's good and doesn't seem "off." Getting rid of that "off-ness" will come with time. Maybe this picture will do it, maybe the next one.

I don't think these types of films will replace "fully-animated" films. As long as animated films are successful and people want to make them and enjoy making them, then they will get made. I do think hybrid films will continue though. I hear Spielberg wants to do one. Isn't he the executive producer or something anyway. Rockfish could be a hybrid film, wasn't some of the short mocap?

[Scandell]

I have a feeling many of you are going to eat your words.

Just a sneaking suspicion. (I wish I could share more)

[Kimotion]

Whenever someone tries to experiment or do anything new (or that they think is new) should be applauded. Life and art is all about progress...and stumbling once in a while is part of that progress.

* ggggGGGOOOOOOOONNNNNNnnnnggggg...........*

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