Goon
08-14-2003, 06:23 PM
So we got this nice pretty MB and Animanium forum and no animanium! Havent heard a thing about it since Sig, or before Sig actually.
Whats happening as far as release dates etc?
Whats happening as far as release dates etc?
View Full Version : Animanium?
|
|
Goon
08-14-2003, 06:26 PM
Okay so I got off my lazy as and visited google.
They now have an English site, several new movies, and more information.
<<<Here>>> (http://www.animanium.com/product_features.htm)
They now have an English site, several new movies, and more information.
<<<Here>>> (http://www.animanium.com/product_features.htm)
rebo
08-15-2003, 03:55 AM
heheh they need a better translator.
danb
08-15-2003, 07:09 AM
Man i hope this thing comes out soon. I am dying to try something different than messiah or MB. Animanium looks awesome. Almost too good to be true though. I still don't understand how the animanium uses segmented parts instead of bones. But i like that idea alot better. I hope support for it is going to be good. Right now i don't use maya, softimage, or max, and don't plan on switching any time in the future. I am happy with cinema4d. Anybody know when Animanium is going to be released?
Rabid pitbull
08-15-2003, 03:52 PM
As far as i have seen, animanium only works with Max right now. Besides it is also reported to be a $2000 application, not exactly in the same chatagory as MB or messiah imho. Personally I am not looking to close(dont want to be teased) since I would never pay that much when MB or messiah are out there.
It is nice to see the compitition growing though, hopefully it will push all the apps forward.:applause:
It is nice to see the compitition growing though, hopefully it will push all the apps forward.:applause:
SheepFactory
08-15-2003, 05:37 PM
animanium works wilt all major softwares not only max.
dunno whats talking them so long to open up their online store though :\
dunno whats talking them so long to open up their online store though :\
rebo
08-15-2003, 06:16 PM
Im guessing the software needs to be translated form Japanese to English first ??
shapeshifter
08-15-2003, 08:53 PM
Originally posted by Sheep Factory
dunno whats talking them so long to open up their online store though :\
True. When I asked them a couple of weeks ago they said it should be out this August. So that gives them 2 more weeks...
The "problem" I have is that I want to test it before I spend 2000$ for some unknown app!! Hopefully I can convince my school to have a look at this nice software...
One more thing: I am not quite sure that all translators for all software packages are ready yet. When I asked them about the xsi converter they never wrote back :rolleyes: - to all my other answers they replied pretty soon though :thumbsup:
dunno whats talking them so long to open up their online store though :\
True. When I asked them a couple of weeks ago they said it should be out this August. So that gives them 2 more weeks...
The "problem" I have is that I want to test it before I spend 2000$ for some unknown app!! Hopefully I can convince my school to have a look at this nice software...
One more thing: I am not quite sure that all translators for all software packages are ready yet. When I asked them about the xsi converter they never wrote back :rolleyes: - to all my other answers they replied pretty soon though :thumbsup:
Goon
08-15-2003, 09:32 PM
Will there be a student edition? I cannot spend $2000 on anything but tuition atm
shapeshifter
08-15-2003, 11:58 PM
Originally posted by Goon
Will there be a student edition?
On their website it says they are thinking about it. So, I don't know, but considering that everyone compares animanium in some way or the other to MB I think there will be one.
How else could they show us what makes it worth to spend 1800$ more than for MB? ;)
Will there be a student edition?
On their website it says they are thinking about it. So, I don't know, but considering that everyone compares animanium in some way or the other to MB I think there will be one.
How else could they show us what makes it worth to spend 1800$ more than for MB? ;)
rebo
08-16-2003, 03:11 AM
I fear this wonder product and the other one (clay) have missed the boat. The 3d software industry moves fast nowadays.
zaam
08-16-2003, 05:01 AM
They have some obstacles to overcome, IMO. At a price point that compares to MAYA, Animanium might have a hard time. The development team also needs to get serious about overcoming the languarge barriers really fast.
danb
08-16-2003, 10:52 AM
i was doing some drooling over on their site:drool: and noticed animaniums' claim to TRUE IK UNVIELED. what does this mean compared to other ik systems. anyone?
shapeshifter
08-16-2003, 01:03 PM
Originally posted by danb
i was doing some drooling over on their site:drool: and noticed animaniums' claim to TRUE IK UNVIELED. what does this mean compared to other ik systems. anyone?
You did watch the videos, right? I think they pretty much show the power of animanium: U can (just like in Mirai) pin any joint and then (the cool part) the ik calculates from this pinned point on. I don't know how to better explain - everyone interested should just watch the videos on their site.
If it really is as cool as I imagine and the exporters to other software work fine then I would considering buying it - the student version that is :p
i was doing some drooling over on their site:drool: and noticed animaniums' claim to TRUE IK UNVIELED. what does this mean compared to other ik systems. anyone?
You did watch the videos, right? I think they pretty much show the power of animanium: U can (just like in Mirai) pin any joint and then (the cool part) the ik calculates from this pinned point on. I don't know how to better explain - everyone interested should just watch the videos on their site.
If it really is as cool as I imagine and the exporters to other software work fine then I would considering buying it - the student version that is :p
Andy741
08-16-2003, 08:40 PM
I asked them about facial animation and they emailed me back saying "...no facial animation unless it has a bone data.
Any living things like human, horse, birds or octopus which has a bone data will be applied into Animanium."
I'm not sure if that means you can still do facial animation with bones like messiah:animate does.
The videos they showed looked pretty awesome though. Like the way the whole body moved when you move limbs looked really cool.
Any living things like human, horse, birds or octopus which has a bone data will be applied into Animanium."
I'm not sure if that means you can still do facial animation with bones like messiah:animate does.
The videos they showed looked pretty awesome though. Like the way the whole body moved when you move limbs looked really cool.
Renderman_XSI
08-16-2003, 09:15 PM
Well, if its going to cost 2,000 USD..i'd like to try out the trail version first. It reminds me of the Mirai days. where animating is fun and not complicated.
But yes, im also looking forward to testing this in conjunction with Softimage XSI,since it has nothing like it.
But yes, im also looking forward to testing this in conjunction with Softimage XSI,since it has nothing like it.
ambient-whisper
08-17-2003, 05:28 AM
Originally posted by rebo
I fear this wonder product and the other one (clay) have missed the boat. The 3d software industry moves fast nowadays.
huh? clay is like... 0.21... its got a long way to 1.0. it hasnt missed anything yet.
unless your talking about something else..
I fear this wonder product and the other one (clay) have missed the boat. The 3d software industry moves fast nowadays.
huh? clay is like... 0.21... its got a long way to 1.0. it hasnt missed anything yet.
unless your talking about something else..
rebo
08-17-2003, 12:49 PM
AW thats exactly my point, the longer the development of these uber-products go on the higher the price tag will be to justify the development time. All the while other competing software Silo ($109 )/ modo in the case of clay, and Motionbuilder in the case of Animanium, are being released creating a strong user base and decent price points.
I dont see what huge advantage Animanium is going to have over MB, and at its cheapest you can get MB for $200 compared to animaniums $2000.
Innovation is shortlived and if something takes forever to be released it will have 'missed the boat'.
I dont see what huge advantage Animanium is going to have over MB, and at its cheapest you can get MB for $200 compared to animaniums $2000.
Innovation is shortlived and if something takes forever to be released it will have 'missed the boat'.
ambient-whisper
08-17-2003, 01:13 PM
yes. but the great thing about clay.. is that its made by one guy, on the side. there are no "high development costs" etc.. and he mentioned a while ago that if he sells it, itll be for rather cheap. or...( but highly unlikely ) opensource.
anyhoo. back to animanium talk :) :drool:
anyhoo. back to animanium talk :) :drool:
gameboy
08-18-2003, 07:27 PM
As I see it, there are two major advantages to Animanium that make it especially attractive:
1. The interface - simple, intuitive, easy (looks like fun, too). This translates into greater productivity, and time is money. Motionbuilder can do similar things, but its interface is more complex and cumbersome IMHO.
2. For character rigging, there is no need to create weight maps for vertices - just choose the type of bone, its range of movement, and its size in comparison to the model geometry. This would remove an entire phase from my production pipeline, and that is always a good thing. I brought this up in the Character rigging forum here: http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=76295 Keep in mind that I'm going off my understanding of what their website says, so I could be wrong if something got 'lost in the translation'. :shrug:
According to their emails, a demo version of animanium should be out sometime this month, as well as the full commercial release of their product.
1. The interface - simple, intuitive, easy (looks like fun, too). This translates into greater productivity, and time is money. Motionbuilder can do similar things, but its interface is more complex and cumbersome IMHO.
2. For character rigging, there is no need to create weight maps for vertices - just choose the type of bone, its range of movement, and its size in comparison to the model geometry. This would remove an entire phase from my production pipeline, and that is always a good thing. I brought this up in the Character rigging forum here: http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=76295 Keep in mind that I'm going off my understanding of what their website says, so I could be wrong if something got 'lost in the translation'. :shrug:
According to their emails, a demo version of animanium should be out sometime this month, as well as the full commercial release of their product.
danb
08-18-2003, 07:39 PM
awesome. thanks gameboy for the info. i have been trying to get a demo version of mirai. as i have read that mirai's ik system is similar to animanium's. does anyone know if that is true?
Renderman_XSI
08-19-2003, 02:26 AM
I just receive a reply from USA Index Corp:
"Thank you for your interest in Animanium which will be available in late
August~early September with $1500+ price.
The converter for Maya, 3Dsmax, Lightwave and XSI will be also provided.
Best,
USA Index Corporation"
If you really have a problem with the pricetag, now is the time to e-mail them with your concerns. Personally im fine with the price. I would rather buy Animanium at $1500 + price tag over MB, due to the uniform GUI for one reason.
"Thank you for your interest in Animanium which will be available in late
August~early September with $1500+ price.
The converter for Maya, 3Dsmax, Lightwave and XSI will be also provided.
Best,
USA Index Corporation"
If you really have a problem with the pricetag, now is the time to e-mail them with your concerns. Personally im fine with the price. I would rather buy Animanium at $1500 + price tag over MB, due to the uniform GUI for one reason.
DominikSusmel
08-28-2003, 01:50 AM
As far as judging from the CD I've got from Sega awhile ago (video only on it)...it looks like alot of fun, and I wouldn't mind the price tag and a bit of wait if there aren't several things that bother me (which are rather unclear to me as of yet):
- Setup... WTF, I mean, video shows no model setup into their system, apart from sliced model, which indicates some modeling phase would be needed
- Lypsynch, morphing, or skeletal lipsynch as seen in Messiah...neither is supported as seen in movies, which isn't a much of an obstacle, cause you could do it in prim application (Maya for example)...though I would prefer all in one place, especially if I'm ought to do some stretchy cartoony look...though sega might proove me wrong with their toolset in Animanium
- Constraint animation of let's say, eye directions and stuff like that
Which all boils down to...if the setup is rather hassle free, I'm ought to an adventure...if not, well, there's always stuff like TSM:Maya that suits 90% of my character rigging stuff, pretty much 100% hassle free :)
- Setup... WTF, I mean, video shows no model setup into their system, apart from sliced model, which indicates some modeling phase would be needed
- Lypsynch, morphing, or skeletal lipsynch as seen in Messiah...neither is supported as seen in movies, which isn't a much of an obstacle, cause you could do it in prim application (Maya for example)...though I would prefer all in one place, especially if I'm ought to do some stretchy cartoony look...though sega might proove me wrong with their toolset in Animanium
- Constraint animation of let's say, eye directions and stuff like that
Which all boils down to...if the setup is rather hassle free, I'm ought to an adventure...if not, well, there's always stuff like TSM:Maya that suits 90% of my character rigging stuff, pretty much 100% hassle free :)
shapeshifter
08-28-2003, 04:09 PM
Originally posted by Dominik Susmel
[B]- Setup... WTF, I mean, video shows no model setup into their system, apart from sliced model, which indicates some modeling phase would be needed
- Lypsynch, morphing, or skeletal lipsynch as seen in Messiah...neither is supported as seen in movies
- Constraint animation of let's say, eye directions and stuff like thatB]
Hi Dominik,
if you are interested you can look at their website (www.animanium.com). Regarding your first question / setup, it says that you would position the bones inside your main application (XSI, Max, Maya,...) and then Animanium calculates its "human ik" based on the bone length and position inside the model. Whether the geometry needs to be somewhat prepared sliced low res version) I don't know.
Also Animanium is strictly "bone based" so there's no shape animation / morphing. Even though facial animation could be done with bones as well (as you mentioned) I guess one is much better off with the facial aniamtion in XSI, Maya etc.
So far I am under the impression that it is best used for "whole body movement" and not subtle facial animation. But looking at the videos I think it will be a great addition nevertheless :drool:
[B]- Setup... WTF, I mean, video shows no model setup into their system, apart from sliced model, which indicates some modeling phase would be needed
- Lypsynch, morphing, or skeletal lipsynch as seen in Messiah...neither is supported as seen in movies
- Constraint animation of let's say, eye directions and stuff like thatB]
Hi Dominik,
if you are interested you can look at their website (www.animanium.com). Regarding your first question / setup, it says that you would position the bones inside your main application (XSI, Max, Maya,...) and then Animanium calculates its "human ik" based on the bone length and position inside the model. Whether the geometry needs to be somewhat prepared sliced low res version) I don't know.
Also Animanium is strictly "bone based" so there's no shape animation / morphing. Even though facial animation could be done with bones as well (as you mentioned) I guess one is much better off with the facial aniamtion in XSI, Maya etc.
So far I am under the impression that it is best used for "whole body movement" and not subtle facial animation. But looking at the videos I think it will be a great addition nevertheless :drool:
DominikSusmel
08-28-2003, 05:48 PM
Thanks shapeshifter...
the bones setup in principal application sounds about right. I guess that's the only thing that bothers me, since I believe Sega has a pretty great potential with Animanium..atleast from my perspective.
the bones setup in principal application sounds about right. I guess that's the only thing that bothers me, since I believe Sega has a pretty great potential with Animanium..atleast from my perspective.
shapeshifter
08-28-2003, 09:42 PM
I just received an email: They are finally shipping a beta version! I can't wait to receive it! As soon as I have it I will tell you what it's like! :buttrock::buttrock:
Renderman_XSI
08-29-2003, 05:22 AM
Originally posted by shapeshifter
I just received an email: They are finally shipping a beta version! I can't wait to receive it! As soon as I have it I will tell you what it's like! :buttrock::buttrock:
im in the same boat as you..but wont get to test it until later next month. look forward to the first impression of this software. post up some good exmaple "if" possible.
late.
I just received an email: They are finally shipping a beta version! I can't wait to receive it! As soon as I have it I will tell you what it's like! :buttrock::buttrock:
im in the same boat as you..but wont get to test it until later next month. look forward to the first impression of this software. post up some good exmaple "if" possible.
late.
shapeshifter
08-29-2003, 12:20 PM
Originally posted by Renderman_XSI
im in the same boat as you..but wont get to test it until later next month. post up some good exmaple "if" possible.
I will try and do my best. However, I too won't get to test it in depth before mid september as I am finally going on vacation :beer:
im in the same boat as you..but wont get to test it until later next month. post up some good exmaple "if" possible.
I will try and do my best. However, I too won't get to test it in depth before mid september as I am finally going on vacation :beer:
Peter Reynolds
08-30-2003, 05:07 PM
The next version of Mirai could make Animanium look over priced and over rated.
ambient-whisper
08-30-2003, 05:18 PM
the next version of mirai could come in 10 years ;)
danb
08-30-2003, 05:21 PM
Originally posted by Peter Reynolds
The next version of Mirai could make Animanium look over priced and over rated.
yeah does anyone have any info as to when MIRAI will be released. or any of the new features it will have.
The next version of Mirai could make Animanium look over priced and over rated.
yeah does anyone have any info as to when MIRAI will be released. or any of the new features it will have.
shapeshifter
08-30-2003, 05:33 PM
Originally posted by Peter Reynolds
The next version of Mirai could make Animanium look over priced and over rated.
That would be great! However I think that it takes another ten years for them to plan the relaunch of their website ;) But honestly I think no one knows when / if it will ever be released.
Looking at the FK / Ik thread and Martin's videos it definately was a superb proggie. I am just sceptical because the amount of money needed to bring Mirai up to par with XSI etc. would be huge.
About Animanium being overpriced - lets wait how it performs. The Beta should arrive next week.
The next version of Mirai could make Animanium look over priced and over rated.
That would be great! However I think that it takes another ten years for them to plan the relaunch of their website ;) But honestly I think no one knows when / if it will ever be released.
Looking at the FK / Ik thread and Martin's videos it definately was a superb proggie. I am just sceptical because the amount of money needed to bring Mirai up to par with XSI etc. would be huge.
About Animanium being overpriced - lets wait how it performs. The Beta should arrive next week.
Michel Besner
08-30-2003, 09:52 PM
Don't forget to download a trial version of MB5 if you want to do a comparaison with animanium ...
http://www.kaydara.com/products/motionbuilder/index.php?filename=download
M.
http://www.kaydara.com/products/motionbuilder/index.php?filename=download
M.
Renderman_XSI
08-30-2003, 10:45 PM
Originally posted by shapeshifter
I will try and do my best. However, I too won't get to test it in depth before mid september as I am finally going on vacation :beer:
I just got my beta version today, you should know that it expires by the end of September(setting your system clock back wont work;)). It contains a XSI addon 1.0.1, whereas Max and Maya have a more advance release. Lastly, the instruction are in Japanese in regards to XSI plugin. User Manual is however in english. So im not sure how anyone who doesnt read japanese can do the needed setup in XSI to export to Animanium.
edit: all exporter,Maya,Max,LW are in japanese. Tell me if anyone else gets anything different in this area. Im not complaining but curious.
The user manual is very basic, its not a bad thing because less to remember and know about..its very simplified. I havent tested it yet, still waiting for the license key.
I will try and do my best. However, I too won't get to test it in depth before mid september as I am finally going on vacation :beer:
I just got my beta version today, you should know that it expires by the end of September(setting your system clock back wont work;)). It contains a XSI addon 1.0.1, whereas Max and Maya have a more advance release. Lastly, the instruction are in Japanese in regards to XSI plugin. User Manual is however in english. So im not sure how anyone who doesnt read japanese can do the needed setup in XSI to export to Animanium.
edit: all exporter,Maya,Max,LW are in japanese. Tell me if anyone else gets anything different in this area. Im not complaining but curious.
The user manual is very basic, its not a bad thing because less to remember and know about..its very simplified. I havent tested it yet, still waiting for the license key.
Renderman_XSI
08-30-2003, 11:08 PM
here is a rundown of the user manual:
-make a project folder/start animanium
-load a timesheet
-backgrounds
-move camera
-move joints
-set keyframe
-change inerpolation types
-play animation in the selected range
-copy and paste keyframes
-move keyframes
-delete keyframes
-save timesheets
-the flip effect
-menu items
-work window menu
-joint properties menu
that is all. most if not all of those are only single page. This doesnt take away from the creators intentation of making something powerful,yet simple to learn and understand.
-make a project folder/start animanium
-load a timesheet
-backgrounds
-move camera
-move joints
-set keyframe
-change inerpolation types
-play animation in the selected range
-copy and paste keyframes
-move keyframes
-delete keyframes
-save timesheets
-the flip effect
-menu items
-work window menu
-joint properties menu
that is all. most if not all of those are only single page. This doesnt take away from the creators intentation of making something powerful,yet simple to learn and understand.
jipe
08-31-2003, 02:56 AM
Just curious.. how did you get to beta it? Can you apply somewhere?
shapeshifter
08-31-2003, 03:40 PM
Originally posted by Renderman_XSI
you should know that it expires by the end of September(setting your system clock back wont work;)). It contains a XSI addon 1.0.1. Lastly, the instruction are in Japanese in regards to XSI plugin. So im not sure how anyone who doesnt read japanese can do the needed setup in XSI to export to Animanium.
Thanks for the info! I haven't received it yet. So I am really interested if you get it to work properly with the instructions being in japanese?! :shrug:
Let us now if it works for you. I am just so impatient... ;)
you should know that it expires by the end of September(setting your system clock back wont work;)). It contains a XSI addon 1.0.1. Lastly, the instruction are in Japanese in regards to XSI plugin. So im not sure how anyone who doesnt read japanese can do the needed setup in XSI to export to Animanium.
Thanks for the info! I haven't received it yet. So I am really interested if you get it to work properly with the instructions being in japanese?! :shrug:
Let us now if it works for you. I am just so impatient... ;)
gameboy
08-31-2003, 05:37 PM
Renderman,
Thanks for the info. I haven't received my beta of animanium yet. However, I have an idea of how you might be able to get a crude translation of the Japanese plugin manuals:
1. Scan the documents into your computer.
2. Post the scanned documents on a web page somewhere.
3. Go to babblefish to translate the web page into english.
http://babel.altavista.com/
(You could also buy language translation software such as NeuroTran from Translation Experts http://www.tranexp.com/).
Thanks for the info. I haven't received my beta of animanium yet. However, I have an idea of how you might be able to get a crude translation of the Japanese plugin manuals:
1. Scan the documents into your computer.
2. Post the scanned documents on a web page somewhere.
3. Go to babblefish to translate the web page into english.
http://babel.altavista.com/
(You could also buy language translation software such as NeuroTran from Translation Experts http://www.tranexp.com/).
Geco
09-02-2003, 03:15 AM
i got the demo cd some time ago but no info about a beta release, what i should do to get it?
Geco
09-03-2003, 08:38 AM
someone knows where to send a request to become a beta tester?
Renderman_XSI
09-05-2003, 05:15 AM
Its been 4-5 days now, and still have not receive my license key needed to operate the software. Maybe they are BUSY, i sent Index Corp and Sega Corp same e-mail..but no reply as of yet.
did anyone receive their license key?I'd be really suprises.
did anyone receive their license key?I'd be really suprises.
katakana
09-05-2003, 08:11 AM
Originally posted by Geco
someone knows where to send a request to become a beta tester?
All i did to get on the beta was send them an email some time ago, you can try this address: support@animanium.com
thats who i emailed, and thats who emailed me.
Renderman, i got the disk today, it would have been here sooner but the didnt write my zip code on the package. Ill let you know the instant i get a license file.
someone knows where to send a request to become a beta tester?
All i did to get on the beta was send them an email some time ago, you can try this address: support@animanium.com
thats who i emailed, and thats who emailed me.
Renderman, i got the disk today, it would have been here sooner but the didnt write my zip code on the package. Ill let you know the instant i get a license file.
damonwork
09-05-2003, 09:28 AM
Hi,
Renderman_XSI
I got my licence a few days ago, took a few days though.
Did you send both files, the licence request .req file and the file with your details?
They are responding quickly to queries if you mail them.
Damon
Renderman_XSI
I got my licence a few days ago, took a few days though.
Did you send both files, the licence request .req file and the file with your details?
They are responding quickly to queries if you mail them.
Damon
Geco
09-05-2003, 09:39 AM
thanx for the info. http://geocities.com/kl_aktuell/temp/smile.txt
Renderman_XSI
09-05-2003, 10:14 AM
Originally posted by damonwork
Hi,
Renderman_XSI
I got my licence a few days ago, took a few days though.
Did you send both files, the licence request .req file and the file with your details?
They are responding quickly to queries if you mail them.
Damon
How many days did it take for you to get your license file? And yes i did send both required files. Strange, its been 5 days still no e-mail reply..from both Index Corp or Sega Corp.
katakana, check if your document for XSI plugin is in japanese or english? i assume it might be in japanese also. If you have some free time, please try to translate into eigo for me and many other XSI user who are interested in Animanium.
Hi,
Renderman_XSI
I got my licence a few days ago, took a few days though.
Did you send both files, the licence request .req file and the file with your details?
They are responding quickly to queries if you mail them.
Damon
How many days did it take for you to get your license file? And yes i did send both required files. Strange, its been 5 days still no e-mail reply..from both Index Corp or Sega Corp.
katakana, check if your document for XSI plugin is in japanese or english? i assume it might be in japanese also. If you have some free time, please try to translate into eigo for me and many other XSI user who are interested in Animanium.
CGTalk Moderation
01-15-2006, 08:00 PM
This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.
vBulletin v3.0.5, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.