Animazoo Launches Budget Motion Capture Suit
Animazoo UK Ltd http://www.animazoo.com is a Brighton-based manufacturer of motion capture systems used in film, TV and computer games development.
Suit-based capture gives animators, games developers and live performers the opportunity to work with motion capture technology - traditionally the domain of big budget production houses - by freeing them from the constraints of a studio and allowing them to capture at home, on stage and even outdoors. Gypsy mechanical systems were used in the making of the video game Stuart Little 3 – Big Photo Adventure, published by Sega, as well as with BBC and Fuji television, amongst others.
MORE FLEXIBILITY
With Gypsy5, sensors are incorporated into two separate exo-skeleton frames that fit snugly around the human body and accurately record the rotational motion of an actor's bones. By removing the spine units, the new versions are more flexible, allowing a greater range of movements for the actor. New automatic actor-calibration software means faster and more efficient system set up times, with no need for bio-mechanical knowledge - users simply `drag and drop' points over an actor's digital photograph.
Ali Kord, technical director of Animazoo, says: "Nowadays, consumers know a lot about the technology behind blockbuster films such as King Kong – they know that motion capture was used and marvel at the results. By making systems more accessible and affordable, we can bridge the gap between understanding this technology and actually using it! That will be a big step forwards."
CALIFORNIA LAUNCH
The new Gypsy5 will make its first appearance at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Jose, California, from 20 to 24 March, 2006. It will be demonstrated by Animazoo's North American distributor, Meta Motion, at booth number 1545. The product is priced at US$ 25,000 (approx. £14,275). Upper body only torso systems are available from US$10,000 (approx. £5,708).
Animazoo UK Ltd is based in Brighton. Established in the UK in 1993, the company is the manufacturer of the Gypsy range of motion capture systems. Winner of the Computer Graphics World (CGW) Most Innovative award in 1997 for the original Gypsy mechanical system, the company has an established network of dealers both in the UK and abroad. It has considerable experience working in creative, academic and corporate markets.
The company's client list includes game developers, broadcasters and industry – the BBC, RAI TV, Kuju Entertainment, NASA, Suzuki, Toyota Motor Corporation; as well as many prestigious universities - Warwick, Glasgow Caledonian, Yale, MIT and more.
WEBLINK: http://www.animazoo.com.