There are suits that have traditional markers or sensors to capture the full body movements while others rely on an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Mocap suits are made to be skin-tight yet breathable and comfortable and are usually plain colored. Image source: PhaseSpace MoCap Spandex Suits Though there are some that don’t require markers anymore. This technique is called “facial capture” where it records the actor’s exact expressions and reactions by using markers or dots on their faces. Once the movements are recorded and transmitted into the computer, VFX artists will then “clean up” the shots for any anomalies, bumps, or jitters due to occlusion, reflections, or glitches.Īside from the mocap suit, a head-mounted gear is also essential for a full motion capture experience. A “skeleton” is generated in the computer which moves in real-time and the actions recorded will be used on a 3D character. The more cameras used for motion tracking, the more precise the outcome will be. These markers are tracked by specialized cameras where the movements are being sent to a computer using motion capture software. The more updated versions are now using sensors rather than just markers to track the movements of the actor. It is fitted to the actor which helps in properly placing the markers like dots or LEDs. To start, a mocap suit is a device that an actor wears in order to help record each move they make. We’ll also check out the characters in movies and TV shows that the mocap suit has brought to life. Let’s learn more about the magic of the mocap suit, a little bit of its history, its mechanism, and how it works. The 3D character will then move exactly how the movements were captured from the suit. How do mocap suits work? Motion capture suit or mocap suit records the real-life movements of an actor or an object and sends it to a computer program where it will be applied to a 3D character. Such technology helps in making a connection to the audience and conveys the story in a more effective way. It brings to life the characters we can only imagine in a fantasy world as it moves and strides like the real thing. The actor has even started his own mocap studio called The Imaginarium, so be on the look out for many more motion capture characters from the industry pioneer.ĭid we miss any of your favorite motion capture performances? Let us know in the comments below.Motion capture suits are probably one of the best inventions created for movies and video games. Serkis has gone on to become a specialist mocap performer (in King Kong, the Apes films and as Snoke in The Force Awakens), shaping himself into the unsung hero of the film industry. Later in the Hobbit films, mocap tech had improved dramatically enough for Serkis to act as Gollum in a motion capture suit during filming, not just in a special motion capture stage. In the first incarnation of Gollum for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Serkis performed initially in a skin-tight suit on set and then replicated his performance later in the full motion capture get-up on a dedicated stage. But Serkis and the visual effects crew at Weta Digital changed all that when the actor’s direct facial and body performance was translated to the haplessly hopeless Gollum (for both the creature’s personalities). Previously, motion capture had mostly been used just to get accurate gross movements of body motion. Andy Serkis - The Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersĪndy Serkis and the filmmakers behind The Lord of the Rings dramatically altered the approach to motion capture with Gollum. The power in her performance truly shines through, helping the audience to forget for a moment that they're essentially watching a Pocahontas reenactment with big blue aliens.ġ. Saldana was particularly impressive in bringing Neytiri to life - it’s worth checking out some of the side by side videos of the actress in motion capture suit and the final CGI character in scenes like the one where Neytiri learns that Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) has betrayed her trust after being initiated into the tribe. What’s more, all their actions could be viewed in realtime translated to rough character models and environments. To depict the native Na'vi inhabitants of the planet Pandora, Cameron had his actors, including Zoe Saldana as Neytiri, perform within a motion capture volume (a dedicated stage) wearing mocap suits and a skull cap with a camera fixed to a boom away from their face, itself covered in tracking dots. But with Avatar, the director went on full-on mocap franzy. James Cameron had dabbled in motion capture briefly on Titanic, as many of the ship’s passengers were based on little motion capture vignettes or stunt action.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |