Mixamo
Encyclopedia
Mixamo, Inc. is a web-based character animation
company. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California
.
. Keyframing
, while very precise, is expensive to produce and requires a trained animator to create. Motion Capture (Mocap)
, while less expensive per second, requires a much larger investment in hardware, software, and man-power (data clean-up, character retargeting, etc). Motion capture data is often compiled in "motion capture libraries," supported both commercially and by educational institutions such as Carnegie Mellon.
A third option was recently introduced by Mixamo Inc. where high-level controls operates over motion mathematical models derived from Mocap or Keyframed animated data. The research that led to the development of such animation method was begun at Stanford University
Biomotion Lab by Mixamo's CTO Stefano Corazza, focusing on two concepts: markerless motion capture and generative models
.
“Mixamo is the first online platform to enable the application of motion data onto 3ds Max biped characters,” -Marc Stevens, Autodesk
vice president, Games Group. “Mixamo’s expansive collection of high-quality motion data — which can be customized in real-time and automatically retargeted —will help to significantly boost productivity for 3ds Max biped users.”
Mixamo's ability to merge generative models
and markerless motion capture improves the 3D character animation
process, helping to reduce production times and boost the creative output of 3D game artists and design professionals. While targeted at mid-level game production companies, Mixamo's technology supports platforms ranging from consumer character sources such as Evolver
and Turbosquid to game engines and 3D software such as 3Ds Max, Maya, MotionBuilder
, Unity
, Cinema 4D
, and more.
Recently, many industry professionals are also turning procedural animation
for their rapid development cycles. Procedural animation
defines automatically generate animation in real-time to allow for a more diverse series of actions than could otherwise be created using predefined animations. NaturalMotion
, another animation technology company, created a run-time engine called Euphoria
, commercializing procedural animation technology which they have termed Dynamic Motion Synthesis
(DMS).
Mixamo's technology presents an interesting relationship with procedural animation
- not that of a competitive nature but perhaps more symbiotically. Because of the "real-time" factor, many liken the two, however it's important to note that Mixamo's motion originates from actual human motion, where procedural animation is calculated from Newtonian physics acting upon rigid bodies reacting to their environment. Mixamo's real-time customization is fed by generative models created by machine-learning algorithms (using real motion capture data) to calculate both physical and emotional real-time customization. As such, procedural animation
may in fact use Mixamo technology as a seed for iteration, providing a real-life basis for calculated action.
Character animation
Character animation is a specialized area of the animation process concerning the animation of one or more characters featured in an animated work. It is usually as one aspect of a larger production and often made to enhance voice acting. The primary role of a Character Animator is to be the...
company. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
History
Currently, the two most common methods for animation are keyframe animation and motion captureMotion capture
Motion capture, motion tracking, or mocap are terms used to describe the process of recording movement and translating that movement on to a digital model. It is used in military, entertainment, sports, and medical applications, and for validation of computer vision and robotics...
. Keyframing
Key frame
A key frame in animation and filmmaking is a drawing that defines the starting and ending points of any smooth transition. They are called "frames" because their position in time is measured in frames on a strip of film...
, while very precise, is expensive to produce and requires a trained animator to create. Motion Capture (Mocap)
Motion capture
Motion capture, motion tracking, or mocap are terms used to describe the process of recording movement and translating that movement on to a digital model. It is used in military, entertainment, sports, and medical applications, and for validation of computer vision and robotics...
, while less expensive per second, requires a much larger investment in hardware, software, and man-power (data clean-up, character retargeting, etc). Motion capture data is often compiled in "motion capture libraries," supported both commercially and by educational institutions such as Carnegie Mellon.
A third option was recently introduced by Mixamo Inc. where high-level controls operates over motion mathematical models derived from Mocap or Keyframed animated data. The research that led to the development of such animation method was begun at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
Biomotion Lab by Mixamo's CTO Stefano Corazza, focusing on two concepts: markerless motion capture and generative models
Generative model
In probability and statistics, a generative model is a model for randomly generating observable data, typically given some hidden parameters. It specifies a joint probability distribution over observation and label sequences...
.
“Mixamo is the first online platform to enable the application of motion data onto 3ds Max biped characters,” -Marc Stevens, Autodesk
Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that focuses on 3D design software for use in the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, a coauthor of the first versions of the company's...
vice president, Games Group. “Mixamo’s expansive collection of high-quality motion data — which can be customized in real-time and automatically retargeted —will help to significantly boost productivity for 3ds Max biped users.”
Finances
Mixamo has raised $4 million in venture capital (VC) funding from Granite Ventures and Keynote Ventures.Technology
Mixamo's web implementation of an animation system allows users to automatically apply animations chosen from an expanding catalog to their character's skeleton. Mixamo automatically maps and characterizes the uploaded character's skeleton and applies real-time retargeting to transfer the motion onto it. This technology, combined with the capability of customizing the motion, is defined in a Gamasutra article as "adjustable mocap".Mixamo's ability to merge generative models
Generative model
In probability and statistics, a generative model is a model for randomly generating observable data, typically given some hidden parameters. It specifies a joint probability distribution over observation and label sequences...
and markerless motion capture improves the 3D character animation
Character animation
Character animation is a specialized area of the animation process concerning the animation of one or more characters featured in an animated work. It is usually as one aspect of a larger production and often made to enhance voice acting. The primary role of a Character Animator is to be the...
process, helping to reduce production times and boost the creative output of 3D game artists and design professionals. While targeted at mid-level game production companies, Mixamo's technology supports platforms ranging from consumer character sources such as Evolver
Evolver (3D Avatar Web Portal)
The web site Evolver claims to be the first solution to provide a central portal to design, manage and transport 3D digital avatars. Evolver enables social media experience through "avatars or user's representation" across applications which use them, such as virtual worlds, video games and social...
and Turbosquid to game engines and 3D software such as 3Ds Max, Maya, MotionBuilder
Motionbuilder
MotionBuilder is professional 3D character animation software. It is used for Motion capture and traditional keyframe animation. MotionBuilder is produced by Autodesk in Montreal...
, Unity
Unity (game engine)
Unity is an integrated authoring tool for creating 3D video games or other interactive content such as architectural visualizations or real-time 3D animations. Unity's development environment runs on Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X, and the games it produces can be run on Windows, Mac, Xbox 360,...
, Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D
CINEMA 4D is a 3D modeling, animation and rendering application developed by MAXON Computer GmbH of Friedrichsdorf, Germany. It is capable of procedural and polygonal/subd modeling, animating, lighting, texturing, rendering, and common features found in 3d modelling applications.- Overview:The...
, and more.
Recently, many industry professionals are also turning procedural animation
Procedural animation
A procedural animation is a type of computer animation, used to automatically generate animation in real-time to allow for a more diverse series of actions than could otherwise be created using predefined animations....
for their rapid development cycles. Procedural animation
Procedural animation
A procedural animation is a type of computer animation, used to automatically generate animation in real-time to allow for a more diverse series of actions than could otherwise be created using predefined animations....
defines automatically generate animation in real-time to allow for a more diverse series of actions than could otherwise be created using predefined animations. NaturalMotion
NaturalMotion
NaturalMotion is a software company with offices in Oxford and San Francisco. Founded in November 2001 as a spin-off of Oxford University, the company specialises in creating animation technology for the game and film industries.-Technology:...
, another animation technology company, created a run-time engine called Euphoria
Euphoria (software)
Euphoria is a game animation engine created by NaturalMotion based on Dynamic Motion Synthesis, NaturalMotion's proprietary technology for animating 3D characters on-the-fly "based on a full simulation of the 3D character, including body, muscles and motor nervous system"...
, commercializing procedural animation technology which they have termed Dynamic Motion Synthesis
NaturalMotion
NaturalMotion is a software company with offices in Oxford and San Francisco. Founded in November 2001 as a spin-off of Oxford University, the company specialises in creating animation technology for the game and film industries.-Technology:...
(DMS).
Mixamo's technology presents an interesting relationship with procedural animation
Procedural animation
A procedural animation is a type of computer animation, used to automatically generate animation in real-time to allow for a more diverse series of actions than could otherwise be created using predefined animations....
- not that of a competitive nature but perhaps more symbiotically. Because of the "real-time" factor, many liken the two, however it's important to note that Mixamo's motion originates from actual human motion, where procedural animation is calculated from Newtonian physics acting upon rigid bodies reacting to their environment. Mixamo's real-time customization is fed by generative models created by machine-learning algorithms (using real motion capture data) to calculate both physical and emotional real-time customization. As such, procedural animation
Procedural animation
A procedural animation is a type of computer animation, used to automatically generate animation in real-time to allow for a more diverse series of actions than could otherwise be created using predefined animations....
may in fact use Mixamo technology as a seed for iteration, providing a real-life basis for calculated action.
Products and Features
- Real-time motion customization: Generative model motion system allowing users to adjust physical and emotional aspects of a motion.
- Motion retargeting: Receives skeletal input for the automatic application of a motion data set onto a character.
- Character creation: Engine developed to allow character creation using generative models.
- Quadruped motion
See also
- AnimationAnimationAnimation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
- Character animationCharacter animationCharacter animation is a specialized area of the animation process concerning the animation of one or more characters featured in an animated work. It is usually as one aspect of a larger production and often made to enhance voice acting. The primary role of a Character Animator is to be the...
- History of animationHistory of animationAnimation is a graphic representation of drawings to show movement within those drawings. A series of drawings are linked together and usually photographed by a camera, or scanned into, or generated by a computer...
- Motion captureMotion captureMotion capture, motion tracking, or mocap are terms used to describe the process of recording movement and translating that movement on to a digital model. It is used in military, entertainment, sports, and medical applications, and for validation of computer vision and robotics...
- Performance captureMotion captureMotion capture, motion tracking, or mocap are terms used to describe the process of recording movement and translating that movement on to a digital model. It is used in military, entertainment, sports, and medical applications, and for validation of computer vision and robotics...