Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Chung-An Lin

Gene S Lee

Christian Eisenacher

Evan Goldberg

Gregory L Smith

Erick Miller

Noel Villegas

According to one implementation, an animation system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing a software code. The hardware processor executes the software code to receive pose data including rig control values for multiple animation rigs, and to store the rig control values for each animation rig in respective rig control caches identified with the animation rig. The hardware processor also executes the software code to receive constraint data linking one animation rig to one rig control cache identified with any animation rig, receive change data for one rig control value of that linked animation rig, update the rig control value based on the change data, and clear the rig control cache linked with the updated animation rig. Thus, updating any rig control value of an animation rig results in clearing rig control caches linked with that animation rig.

Animation system for managing scene constraints for pose-based caching

Systems and methods are described for leveraging distributed computation systems to split animation application processing of node graphs into two components: 1) a low complexity, primary node graph, that is evaluated by the application of the local device; and 2) one or more, higher complexity, companion node graphs that connect to the primary node graph, and are evaluated by a distributed computation system. As the local device evaluates the original, low complexity node graph, an artist is provided with fast, direct manipulation of an animated object. At the same time, the distributed computation system evaluates the higher complexity, companion node graphs, thereby providing a user of the local application with higher fidelity versions of the primary node graph as they are computed.

Multi-granular rigs for distributed node-based interactive workflows

A distributed computation system is leveraged to evaluate many possible results of a rig near the current pose to obtain predicted poses. A user locally runs an animation application instance to manipulate an animated object including a rig and shape. Depending on a user's selection or modification of a rig control of the rig, changes to the rig control are predicted. Based on the predicted changes to the rig control, the distributed computation system evaluates the rig to obtain different predicted poses. The predicted poses are made available to an interpolator that blends the results to obtain an interpolated shape. In implementations, the distributed computation system may be used to evaluate predicted poses for animation ghosting.

Direct manipulation interpolation and ghost wedging for distributed node-based interactive workflows

Methods and systems for two-phase skinning of an object undergoing rigid and non-rigid transformations are disclosed. One method of skinning the object may include separating the object's joint transformations into rigid and non-rigid parts by determining if a joint is scale compensating or scale non-compensating, applying non-rigid joint transformations to the mesh, and applying rigid joint transformations to the mesh. Separation of the object's joint transformations into rigid and non-rigid parts may include determining a bind pose based on an initial configuration of the object's joints and determining an intermediate pose based on the configuration of the object's joints after non-rigid joint transformations are applied to the joints.

Enhanced dual quaternion skinning with scale non-compensating joints and support joints

A method for use in deformation of an object. The method includes providing a high-resolution model of the object and providing a control cage for the model that includes control faces each defined by control vertices. The method includes generating a thin-layer segment for each of the control faces including extruding a set of the control vertices a distance toward the model. The method includes binding the control cage to the high resolution model based on the thin-layer segments. Each of the thin-layer segments includes a segmented mesh corresponding to a set of the control faces surrounding each face as it is used as seed for a segment. The method includes determining heat diffusion weights for the segments and using the weights along with mean value coordinates to statically bind the cage to the model and to determine influences of segments during deformation of the model with the cage.

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Cerritos, CA, United States of America

Chung-An Lin