{"id":5374,"date":"2021-12-03T12:10:29","date_gmt":"2021-12-03T12:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/synchedin.com\/blog\/?p=5374"},"modified":"2021-12-03T12:10:29","modified_gmt":"2021-12-03T12:10:29","slug":"motion-capture-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/licensing.routenote.com\/blog\/motion-capture-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Motion Capture | A Beginner’s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You may recognise famous motion capture characters, like Gollum from The<\/em> Lord of the Rings, <\/em>but do you know how he was created? Here’s our easy introduction to motion capture!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visual effects (VFX) have come a long way. With the advancement of technology, the way films are created and shot has changed drastically since the dawn of cinema. The use of green screen<\/a> means the only limit is the filmmaker’s imagination for where a movie can be set. Gone are the days of relying solely on heavy costumes and extensive makeup, thanks to motion capture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Motion Capture?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Motion capture, also referred to as mocap, is the process of recording the movement of people or objects. The data recorded is then transferred to another digital application. This enables filmmakers or game creators to capture photorealistic movement in a virtual environment. It isn’t limited just to cinema, being utilised in sports as well as the development of robotics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All sounds rather technical, huh? How does it actually work? Let’s first look at where it came from, and how it has developed over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mocap Origins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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American animator, Lee Harrison III began developing techniques for capturing the motion of actors in the 1960s. Working on the first mocap suit, Harrison used a series of analogue circuits, cathode ray tubes, and adjustable resistors. With these, he worked out a system for recording real-time movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This technology was quickly developed further in the following decades. Potentiometers attached to suits would relay any movement to a monitor, where it was roughly turned into animation. Suits were gradually improved, being lined with active markers. Large cameras were also involved in capturing the movement, allowing for much more detailed animations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Popularising of Motion Capture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This visual effects technique didn’t gain mainstream popularity for some decades since its birth. It was used sparingly in American commercials and television, although the animations produced were somewhat rudimentary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first film that exclusively used mocap animation was Sinbad: Beyond The Veil Of Mists<\/em>, which was not received well. Check out the animation for yourself…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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