Biology + Animation = hot.

Torsten Reil works with NaturalMotion (creators of Endorphin) to create a blend of amazing animation simulation based upon biological models and behaviors in conjunction with human intervention in animation. The result? I’m guessing more believable organic motion within rigs for animation. Something this responsive could assist in gaining finer control of deformation in computer graphics.

I’ve been lucky enough to work with AI with endorphin and found it ridiculously fun. Not just as a tool for animation, but even as a fun toy to test and play with neural networks in a realistic physics environment. I think it’s ridiculously cool to mess with, because it’s almost like being able to direct your own virtual stunt actor. Of course- you are never going to be able to draw that empathy through motivation as you do in true character animation, but it’s certainly very exciting to see its application over the past few years as a tool for developing cg body doubles.

Of course, this video was made in 2003, and Endorphin has really taken off. You should see what they are doing with it now! Don’t take my word for it though, watch this video!