Computer animation of human figures in conversation and action

Abstract

Viable articulated computer-graphic representations of the human figure have recently been developed by O'Rourke, Zeltzer, and others. In this work, a figure implemented by Maxwell provides the starting point for the development of tools for controlling the movement and action of figures in a simulated three-dimensional environment. The figures representational quality is improved for the purpose of animation, and its capabilities are extended to allow multiple figures to follow arbitrary paths, with posture and movement determined by any combination of key-frames, body-tracking, and algorithmic movement description. Objects in the figure's visual environment arc designed using a program for computer graphic sculpture. A sophisticated computer sound synthesis system was implemented and provided the basis for a script-driven multiprocess approach to specifying the interaction s of multiple figures in a changing environment The resulting system, incorporating figures in an animated visual environment with coordinated sound, may be considered as a vehicle for realizing "electronic cinema". While the animation scripts essentially define a specialized non-procedural programming language, knowledge of a general (procedural) computer language is not required, and figure animations have been realized by artists and filmmakers having no previous background in three-dimensional computer graphics.