Motion Capture in a Nut Shell

Motion Capture is the new shiny object for the animation industry, using the word new loosely. However, many people still don't understand what motion capture really is or how it works yet. So we are going to take this post to explain the different versions along with the pros and cons of motion capture.^[1]

First up is "Mocap."  This is the generic version of motion capture that everyone seems to be the most familiar with.  In this version an actor is given a spandex suit with glowing orbs around it and is put inside an empty set with dozens of cameras tracking the position of each orb as the actor moves.^[1]

I-Mocap also known as inertial motion capture uses smaller sensors than the generic mocap.  This makes use of tracking bright colors on a suit. The cameras track simular to the previous version, but they have the advantage of letting the actor move more normal by not having to make use of the orbs that can get in the way.<sup>[1]

[2]</sup>


There are also now some companies making fully thermal motion capture cameras such as the Kinect from Microsoft. These cameras could be considered a cheap route but they also come with more flaws like not being able to track as much data on exact position of body parts, and can not track any facial animations.

Advantages:

• fast results ( also using the term fast loosely)
• director can correct acting mistakes before they are applied to an object to be animated
• more data is taken in a shorter amount of time than traditional animation processes
• There are some free ware softwares that reduce costs ( just remember you get what you pay for )

Disadvantages:

• Specific hardware and software are needed to make use of this process
• Expensive, most smaller studios can't effectively use motion capture
• Actors still can't break the laws of physics so animation will sometimes still be done by hand
• Models or objects that are not in the same proportion are much more complicated to adjust to fit than to just start traditionally.^[1]

References:

1. motion capture explained Uknown Author.  August 14 2011. Computerstories.net

2. Match Move Reel vimeo video active on 11-18-2012