Name

Tan Wee Hoe

Degree

Degree

Output

Hard Copy, Website

Title

Review of Children Character Setup in 3D Animation

Abstract

Animating—giving life to children character is the most crucial stage for determining the degree of vividness of a 3D character animation. In order to achieve this, character setup plays an important role, by providing animatable attributes for 3D character. This paper aims to propose a customised character setup technique for 3D children character, based on the study of character setups created by animators in animation industry. The focus of this study is threefold: firstly, to analyse the designs of existing 3D children character setups; secondly, to identify the preliminary considerations and key factors that may affect the effectiveness and efficiency of children character setup; and lastly, to propose a customised children character setup, which can be generally applied to 3D character animation. In order to gain insights into the realm of children character setup, a case study approach is executed, which particularly study the character setup techniques of 3D children characters, created by a local animation production house. The output of this study method yields several identical criteria for children character setup in animation production process, hence helps in customising character setup techniques, which may generally benefit the production of 3D animation with children characters.  

Thesis Issues

An effective and efficient character setup not only can facilitate the animating process, but also can enhance the animatabilies of a character. However, most available or default character setups techniques are designed purposely for adult characters. Thus customisation for these existing setups is needed for children characters, because of the differences in terms of physical structure and behaviours. This paper concerns only on computer generated 3D characters, instead of other 3D characters such as clay model, puppet, paper cut model, origami, and characters built for stop motion.

Keywords

animation, children, character setup, 3D

Aim

To propose a customised 3D children character setup via the study of applied character setups adopted by 3D animator in animation industry.

Objective

To analyse the designs of applied 3D children character setups

To identify the preliminary considerations and key factors that may affect the effectiveness and efficiency of children character setup

To propose a customised children character setup, which can be generally applied to 3D character animation

Thesis Development

1.   Background study of the development of character setup, particularly for children characters.

2.   Gather contemporary 3D children character animations and information which relates to children character setup.

3.   Approach experienced animators, and technical directors from animation production houses to identify the character setup techniques, applied for 3D children characters.

4.   Identify the preliminary considerations and key factors that affect the setup of children characters.

5.   Propose a customised character setup for 3D children character. 

Relation to Final Project

The output of this research, which is a proposed customised children character setup, can provide me the guidelines to setup my main character in my animation, which is a Chinese boy.