Motion Capture Artist
About this Role
Motion Capture Artists are the technical wizards behind the scenes, capturing the nuances of human movement and translating them into the digital world. They are the architects of digital movement, using specialized cameras, sensors, and software to record and manipulate real-world performances for use in video games, movies, and other animated projects.
Salary Resources
Key Responsibilities
- Set up, operate and maintain motion capture systems.
- Coach actors and guide them during capture sessions.
- Monitor the capture process and troubleshoot technical issues.
- Clean and process raw capture data.
- Create and edit motion capture animation.
- Retarget motion capture data to different characters.
Learning Resources
Recommended Books
- Film Directing Shot by Shot by Steven D. Katz
- Understanding Motion Capture for Computer Animation by Alberto Menache
- Motion Capture for Artists: Workflow and Techniques for Motion Capture by Midori Kitagawa and Brian Windsor
- The Mocap Book: A Practical Guide to the Art of Motion Capture by Ricardo Tobon
- 3D Character Development Workshop: Rigging Fundamentals for Artists and Animators by Erik Van Horn
- Illusion of Life: Disney Animation by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston
- Acting for Animators by Ed Hooks
- The Animator's Survival Kit by Richard Williams
Tools to Learn
You don't need to learn all of these — they are some of the more common tools for this role.
Game EnginesXSense MVNRokoko Smartsuite ProRokoko StudioVicon VeroOptitrack PrimeIKinema OrionMotionBuilderiCloneAdobe After EffectsMixamo