Reallusion Unveils Universal Character Animation for Maya, 3ds Max, Unity, and DAZ3D at SIGGRAPH 2013

PRESS RELEASE

Generate 3D talking-character animation in a fraction of the time with iClone Pipeline, July 23-25, Booth #771

ANAHEIM, CA, July 23, 2013 - Reallusion (www.reallusion.com), developers of award-winning facial animation and 3D real-time software, today announced the latest edition of iClone Animation Pipeline, which now includes the first universal facial control system for any 3D character. Once requiring a team of animators and weeks of work to bring characters to life, animation pros are now able to accomplish their goals in a matter of days and with minimal production staff by using the iClone Animation Pipeline.

The universal character rig supports importing any custom 3D character to animate with a vast toolset of dynamic facial puppeteering, lip-sync and HumanIK-enhanced motion creation. The latest edition of the iClone Animation Pipeline can be experienced first-hand at SIGGRAPH 2013, July 23-25, booth #771.

WHY IT MATTERS?:

Animation the Old Way: 3D characters play the crucial role of leading us through stories, interactions in games, CG movies and interactive, real-time environments. The creation process to bring these heroes, villains and even the most delicate characters to life as believable actors has forever required artists or a team of artists to invest weeks, months and in some cases years to bring it all together. A high degree of character modeling and rigging skills is necessary, design of custom scripted controls and animating the character from head to toe is a time-consuming challenge that leaves most 3D tool users without the option to incorporate 3D characters into projects within a short amount of time. 

Animation with iClone: The release of iClone 5.5 Pipeline empowers 3D pros to re-imagine the production process while keeping their own pipeline intact, freeing the artist to quickly achieve animation results.  Import actor models as FBX to characterize in iClone and take immediate control of every aspect of creating the actor's performance using iClone's intuitive lip-sync, facial animation, puppeteering and Human IK motion-editing. Prepare your actor, animate and share results in a matter of hours, instead of days or weeks.

Library of 3D Talking Characters Assets:

iClone provides the tools and character base rigs for those with or without a hefty 3D modeling background. Developing a custom cast of actors is easy to master for all skill levels by generating unique talking humans from any photo. Fine-tune actor appearances of photo-based actors with deformation tools for the head shape or body scale. Dress actors with CloneCloth wardrobe design offering a library of base models to fit a myriad of actor styles.

Projects requiring imaginative cartoon characters are also achievable without the need to spend an exhaustive amount of time custom-modeling actors by browsing through the component-based Avatar Toolkit that mixes and matches unlimited creature designs from libraries of creature looks, body parts and accessories.

In addition to the built-in 3D character bases included with iClone, users freely import DAZ Genesis characters, HumanIK-based character builds from Maya and MotionBuilder, or Biped character from 3dsMax.

Fast to Animate Tools:

iClone provides a full range of character animation tools include Automatic lip-sync, Facial Puppet, Motion Layer Editor, MixMove seamless motion generator, Motion Puppet, and thousands of mocap motion clips; timeline editing.

To achieve the highest-level animation result, iClone gives you the powerful option to Bake Constraints, through which you can add realistic toe-to-ground foot contact, hand reach, retarget motion, head look-at, motion path constraint, and realistic spring physics animations.

With the minimal learning curve, you will see actors quickly develop their performance with animation puppeteering, motion blending, motion capture and most important of all the ability to create great animation from scratch assisted with HumanIK.

Adapt to Your Own Pipeline:

Utilize iClone's universal character facial and body animation features with your own 3D character creation from Maya, Max or other tools. iClone 3DXChange preps models to characterize their skin-bone actor with the HumanIK bone map interface enabling the skeleton to animate in iClone. Further activate the facial control by simply following the procedure to map facial bones, viseme mouth shape, and key facial muscle movements, then animate your fully controllable actor's face in iClone.

After you animate your character in iClone, select the animation segment export the facial and body animation data back to your original character and finally render with the tool of your choice.

WHAT IT DOES:

1. Universal Facial & Body Animation Tool for Every 3D Artist

●      For Body: Suite of helpful tools like motion-puppet, motion modify and MixMoves, which can generate body animation from base motion and custom flexibility

●      For Face: Innovative facial puppeteering and auto lip-sync system that people can generate animation by choosing the personality and emotion profiles for fast, professional output.

●      For Total Character: Mature toolset that enables animators to import any 3D character with facial bone rig or morph data into iClone for a quick character animation before  exporting to a preferred rendering tool.

2. Export Talking Characters to Major 3D Tool and Game Engine in One File

●      One-File Export: Flexible toolset that enables all motion data can be saved and managed in one file and exported to the major tools like Max, Maya, Cinema4D, Unity, UDK, etc.

3. World's Largest Real-Time 3D Animation Marketplace with 50,000+ Items

●      Buy: Largest selection of professional content from providers like DAZ, Speed Tree, 3D Total, Unity, etc. Items include ready-for-animation characters and props for your real-time production.

●      Sell: Thriving platform gives animators access to lucrative new revenue source for your work

The new screenshots about facial pipeline from Siggraph demo projects and DAZ store are included in the press resource page.

http://www.reallusion.com/about/pressresource_iclone.aspx

About Reallusion, Inc.

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Reallusion is a leading-edge software developer providing cinematic animation tools for PC, Mac and mobile platforms.  Reallusion's pioneering storytelling technology excelling at character animation, facial morphing and voice lip-sync allows fast creation of interactive avatars for 3D real-time filmmaking and previsualization for professional post-production. Their powerful yet easy-to-use tools make character animation accessible to both Mac and PC users of all skill levels. Reallusion's development of core technologies and growing base of intellectual property firmly establish the company as power among emerging technology innovators, furthering their graphic and imaging embedded kernels to top-brand device manufacturers worldwide.

Web: http://www.reallusion.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReallusionSoftware

Blog: http://blog.reallusion.com/.