Modelling and Animation of Digital Characters within Multi-platform Production

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Sheridan College will partner with SideFX, a leading computer graphics software company, to help them achieve breakthrough delivery of solutions within the area of digital character modelling and animation. The proposed project will centre on research and development into modelling, texturing, and rigging of photorealistic digital characters in order to enhance believability and audience engagement. The focus will be on digital character modelling and animation within three areas of application: digital cinema movies and television; game engines as part of a film production process; and within consumer-focused virtual and augmented reality experiences. The latter applications will include integration of the digital characters as Virtual Humans (VHs), computer-generated characters that exhibit human-like qualities and communicate using natural human modalities including facial expressions, speech and gesture. The potential for dramatic growth in the commercial application of VHs is being enabled by developments in two significant areas of predicted international market growth over the next five years: virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence. Commercialization opportunities exist within media and entertainment; training and simulation across all sectors; and supplementary support for human-to-human provision of services in areas such as healthcare, aging in place, and education. Success within this project will require a research and development process that achieves close coupling and consideration of the relationship between the aesthetics of computer graphics content creation, graphical limitations of hardware, intimate knowledge of complex production and post-production workflows, and software development. The project will enable a team of Sheridan researchers from the digital arts and computer sciences to work together with an industry partner to develop solutions that benefit the company while having the secondary benefit of helping to support the growth and international competitiveness of Ontario's media and entertainment sectors within areas of multi-platform production.