Choreography

Abstract

An animation sequence is composed of one or several related scenes and is characterized by a description, called a script. Each scene contains static objects grouped into a decor. Movable objects, called actors change over time, by transformations and movements defined by the animator. These transformations are controlled by laws that are applied to variables which drive the transformations. The transformations may be very simple, like rotations, or very complex, including torsions, flexions, or deformations. Decors and actors are colored and lighted by light sources. Finally, decors and actors are viewed using virtual cameras. These cameras may evolve over time as though manipulated by cameramen. Any effect is possible: zoom-in, zoom-out, tracking, pan, tilt. Finally, any synthetic actor may appear in such a scene.