Modelling and Animation of Digital Characters within Multi-platform Production

谢里登学院将与领先的计算机图形软件公司SideFX合作，帮助他们在数字角色建模和动画领域实现突破性的解决方案交付。拟议的项目将集中研究和开发逼真的数字角色的建模、纹理和装配，以提高可信度和观众的参与度。重点将放在数字角色建模和动画的三个应用领域：数字电影和电视；游戏引擎作为电影制作过程的一部分；在以消费者为中心的虚拟现实和增强现实体验中。后一种应用将包括将数字角色集成为虚拟人（VHs），这是一种计算机生成的角色，具有类似人类的品质，并使用自然的人类方式进行交流，包括面部表情、语言和手势。未来5年，预计国际市场增长的两个重要领域：虚拟现实和增强现实以及人工智能的发展，使录像机的商业应用有了大幅增长的潜力。商业化机会存在于媒体和娱乐领域；所有部门的培训和模拟；以及在医疗保健、就地老龄化和教育等领域为人与人之间的服务提供补充支持。

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.