I also didn't care for the new logo heading up Dead Man's Chest. They re-invent that wheel to often. Tail Spin!

Ooo Eee Ehh! Ooo Eee ohh! Heh, heh, Heh! Spin it, let's begin it, bear and grin it, when you're in it. You can win it in a minute when you spin it, spin it, spin it! So spin it! Tail Spin!

(Reply) (Thread)

Believe it or not, I don't think that's exactly fair. While there is such a thing as bad motion capture and we've had to endure it for decades, this is exactly why we have clean up animators.

See, no animator turns out perfect animation in one sitting. It's just an impossibility. That's why an entire OTHER set of animators has the task of looking at the original drawings and picking out mistakes using un-tainted and un-fatigued eyeballs.

Now bad motion capture can be only be fixed so far if the actor in the "dot suit" does a very bad job of acting, or the cinematographer is lazy *cough* Hruckheimnf *cough*

In that case we're talking about poor filmmaking, which is the worst thing to happen to animation since... it's invention.

(Reply) (Thread)

I guess I should have been more specific. You’re right. That isn’t a fair statement. I need more practice bitching on livejournal.

The angry comment was meant specifically for digital motion capture, as opposed to rotoscoping (though I have similar views on its use). Working in CG animation I’ve developed some strong opinions about it, and one of the more crucial problems I see in the industry is the increasing trend of replacing character animators with motion capture artists in CG features.

The list of cinematic face kicks that make up Jerry Hruckheimnf’s films are one thing. Poorly done motion capture is the least of his worries. What gets me is when someone like the hugely influential, and all around nice guy, Tom Hanks makes a statement about character animation always being better if an animator works from motioned captured movement of “real” actors. That’s a nice ballslap right there. They are different mediums. They require different masters. To suggest that one trumps the other is laughable. But, being the super awesome guy that he is, Hanks is allowed to make such decrees for the industry.

Now, some of the most astounding animation I’ve seen has been from motion captured characters. But to me, the only motion captured characters that look right are ones that fall into the “visual effects” category of live action films. Gollum was crotch-burstingly good. King Kong made me weep with joy. The problem is, it works well and it’s cheap. Really cheap after you buy the equipment. So cheap that a penny-pinching executive would be crazy not to want to replace an army of animators with a handful of actors and mocap artist whenever possible.

So here’s the crux of my beef: Using motion capture on cartoon characters is insane. It does not look right. In every form of animation there HAS to be exaggeration. Squash and stretch still holds true in digital work. And motion capture tracks the exact movements of a real human being. Without LOTS of work the realistic motion just looks wrong on a stylized character. And even when nearing realism there’s a wide plateau where things look just off enough to be disturbing. I remember one motion captured movie a while back that didn’t look right… about zombies riding a train to the North pole to eat Santa or something...

I agree with you. And I know the process well ;) Good motion capture is an art. I have a huge respect for artists that do it right. However, when these tools are widely used to cut corners in styles of animation where they don’t belong it’s rather obvious. I get a knot in my stomach every time I see it. Character animation and motion capture both take talent and time, and in the end whichever approach looks best is dependant on the style of the project.

So to revise my statement a little:

“Poorly motion captured cartoons are the worst thing to happen to animation since the Mr. T cartoon.”

Though that’s really not fair to Mr. T. He’s a badass tough-guy with a heart of gold who taught me to stay in school and drink milk. I love you, Mr. T!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)