3D character animation synthesis from 2D sketches

ABSTRACT

Traditional character animation has superiority in conveying stylized information about characters and events, but producing it requires a lot of labor and time. Computer generated animation improves greatly on efficiency, but is poor in expressing stylized motion. In this paper, we propose a sketching-based animation synthesis system. The system contains an interface for the user to draw the sketches or load sketch images. Then the system extracts 2D pose from the input strokes and maps the 2D pose to 3D pose that is in a motion capture database. During the mapping, a series of matching 3D pose candidates are found. The user can select the most satisfying candidate as the 3D key pose for the later animation synthesis. The system synthesizes an animation based on the 3D key poses by finding a path in the motion capture database and generating transition motions if needed.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)

Additional Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.6 Methodology and Techniques
      I.3.7 Three-Dimensional Graphics and Realism

Keywords:
animation synthesis, sketching-based interface