Mickey Mouse MoCap: Examining the application of motion capture to cartoon stylised motion in 3D computer animation

Motion capture records human movement which is used to animate virtual characters. This process has proven effective in recent blockbuster, visual effects films where the aim was to produce a form of animation representing objective reality. However, entirely 3D-CG film productions which have used motion capture have unfortunately been poorly received by audiences because these characters lacked the essence of believability. As yet there have been no successful applications of motion capture into fully animated films emulating the cartoon-style of Disney-Pixar productions. This research revisits the use of motion capture for the creation of animated shorts, specifically with cartoon-stylised motion and attempts to identify and overcome the barriers that have prevented its application in cartoon animated films. This is achieved by experimenting with how actors move when recording their performances and how captured movements can be manipulated to achieve a level of cartoon stylisation that adheres to Disney’s style.