Todd Bryant / Kathleen Sullivan

Course Description: This course provides an introduction to the concepts of motion
capture and the motion capture production pipeline to perform and record 3D
animations for film and video games as well as stream for live performances. Students
will learn all of the tools for tracking props and performers using MAGNET’s cutting
edge motion capture studio. Students will also develop concepts around the technology
and integrate their data into 3D computer graphics along with keyframe and procedural
animation and custom 3D assets to build final projects using the Unreal game engine.
Program Learning Objectives: To design a workflow of MoCap and ‘how to’ guides
for diverse type of projects using motion capture and the basics of world and character
building in the game engine Unreal. Reading assignments introduce students to
constructed historical perspective of MoCap and investigates principles particular to
animation and performance.
The objective of the course is to allow students to understand the importance of preproduction and planning which includes notions of storytelling, 3D modelling and
texturing, best practices to capture the sessions, world building methods in video art
and game development, and live show running.
Course Objectives
● To create storyboards and define recording shots before capturing data.
● To understand and use the correct motion capture pipeline
● To learn the skills to direct an effective motion capture session (best calibration)
● To learn the best practices for capturing and cleaning data
● To be able to apply the data to models in Maya, Unreal Engine, and Max/Jitter
● To be able to perform real-time retargeting for Live Performances
Course Structure
The class consists of a weekly lecture and a weekly 2 hour lab session. Students will
work in groups and will be required to attend a self-selected lab session on weekends.
Examples of motion capture projects will be presented in lectures and discussed in the
classroom. Students must demonstrate satisfactory achievement of course objectives
through fulfillment of one final project at the end of the semester and a mandatory
submission for the programs showcase. Final projects will require students to use a
wide variety of software and studio time at MAGNET’s black box mocap studio.
Students will be able to process their motion capture data for use in an animation or
live performance. Collaboration with students and faculty from other programs is
encouraged.