By Elina Shatkin, November 26, 2003
Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc. announced that its procedural animation system, SOFTIMAGE|BEHAVIOR, is being used by award-winning character animation and visual effects studio Rhythm & Hues (Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat, X-Men 2, Daredevil, Solaris, Scooby-Doo, Men in Black 2). The SOFTIMAGE|BEHAVIOR software, which is already widely used in feature films, TV series and high profile commercials, is now being used by Rhythm & Hues on a number of projects including massive crowd scenes for a major film scheduled for release in the spring of 2004.
After extensive research into available crowd simulation solutions, Rhythm & Hues chose the SOFTIMAGE|BEHAVIOR system for its flexibility, ease of integration, extensive feature set and affordability
. Mark A. Brown, vice president of technology for Rhythm & Hues Studios, explains:
With the SOFTIMAGE|BEHAVIOR system, Rhythm & Hues can quickly and creatively choreograph realistic 3-D animated crowds that will behave in a natural and believable way. Thanks to the SOFTIMAGE|BEHAVIOR system, each character will respond intuitively to objects, other characters and changes in their environment. Each digital actor is assigned a unique “brain”, designed to respond and interact in multiple ways to its surroundings. The system’s integrated character engine features real-time IK, animation blending and warping, dynamic path planning, and automatic obstacle avoidance, all of which combine to produce believable, smooth and unique event-responses for the characters in the simulation.
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