Farley J. Chery
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, USA
Title: Designing Backwards: Rethinking complex issues in Animation
Biography
Biography: Farley J. Chery
Abstract
“3D Animation” for many consists of characters moving and acting on screen. Rigging is a background artform that many do not even know exists; it is one of the most important steps to creating believable characters and motions to create the illusion of life. I propose a new methodology to achieve less user clicks while animating, reducing production time by overcoming one of the biggest technical limitiations in animation. Since 2004, commercial developers have tried to create a stabel and intiuitive Multi-way/Bi- directional constraint. Looking at the problem from a user’s perspective; there are tools already made available to the public and imagining the user’s visual experience leads to solutions that are simpler to apply. Technical complexity in animation is defined by the limitations of the tools they use to manipulate the charatcer. By rethinking the issue of Bi-directional constraints as a user interface issue rather than an issue of technical dependency limitation, simpler code can be utilized to switch out control hierarchies. Instead of breaking or negotiating technical issues associated with linear dependencies; it avoids them altogether. Thinking
backwards allows us to feign the wholeness of a system while behind the scenes several systems drive functionality and provides an intuitive user experience with the rig. Also, working within current rule sets reduces feature creep and obsoletion. Rethinking these issues actualizes the freedom animators desire by circling obstacles created by software limitations.