Image Metrics, a leading facial animation technology provider for video games and film (which recently animated over 100 characters in Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption), has announced today that it is expanding its scope by acquiring Character-FX, an avatar creation company founded by 3D animation pioneer John Riggs. Character-FX is a toolset for use with Autodesk’s Maya and 3DS Max (two very commonly used tools at game studios). The toolset “helps to create character facial rigs using a proprietary automated weighting transfer system that rapidly shifts a character's facial motion for incredibly life-like movements.”
Image Metrics intends to merge the Character-FX tech into its FACEWARE animation suite. The integration will improve believable character animation while minimizing avatar creation time. The joint technology was already used to animate a “photo-real recreation” of hailed basketball coach John Wooden in a recent NCAA commercial.
"The Character-FX rigging process was designed to create a highly flexible character model, in a way that fits with any production environment," said Riggs. "As Image Metrics' unique animation technology is the perfect platform for animating Character-FX avatars quickly and believably, the integration of Character-FX with Image Metrics' performance-based animation software will produce characters whose expressions and movement resonate with audiences and gamers."
"It takes a great computer-generated character and a great performance driving it to make a scene feel real and believable. To create facial animation that features these elements, Image Metrics has developed a unique technology for capturing the soul of an actor's performance, and the addition of the Character-FX technology will massively accelerate our ability to create and animate great character models," said Image Metrics CEO Michael Starkenburg. "Image Metrics is dedicated to providing our customers with the technology they need to efficiently and cost effectively create incredible character performances. This acquisition allows us to take another step in that direction."
Image Metrics will also appoint Riggs as Director of Avatar Development.
