The Use Of Computers in Animation

THE USE OF COMPUTERS IN ANIMATION SHERBERT JAMES BRIDGES 04-24-2000 THE USE OF COMPUTERS IN ANIMATION The use of motion capture for computer character animation is relatively new, having begun in the late 1970's, and only now beginning to become widespread. Motion capture is the recording of human body movement (or other movement) for immediate or delayed analysis and playback. The information captured can be as general as the simple position of the body …

…animation. In addition, animation software vendors, such as SoftImage, have integrated these systems into their product creating "off-the-shelf" performance animation systems. Although there are many problems yet to be solved in the field of human motion capture, the practice is now well ensconced as a viable option for computer animation production. As the technology develops, there is no doubt that motion capture in computers will become one of the basic tools of the animator's craft.