JP3103919B2 - Animation creation method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an animation creating method and an animation creating apparatus for creating a moving image by, for example, gradually changing the values of a plurality of parameters.
About the installation .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to create an animation of a predetermined character by computer graphics, data of a basic shape of the character is inputted, and the movement of each part of the character is designated by a predetermined parameter value. Is done. Then, by changing the values of all parameters every time along a certain time axis, the character can be made to perform a desired movement. The time axis is usually called a timeline, and the unit of the timeline is, for example, [hour: minute: second: frame number].

FIG. 6 shows a conventional apparatus for creating an animation using computer graphics. This animation creation device includes a keyboard 1, an image input device 2 such as a digitizer, a central processing unit (CPU) 3, a memory 4 such as a RAM and a magnetic disk device, and an image display device 5 such as a cathode ray tube. The data of the basic shape of the predetermined character is stored in the memory 4 from the image input device 2 such as a digitizer via the CPU 3.
Incidentally, the data of the basic shape of the character itself can be generated by a calculation by a computer (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-26584).

For example, if the character is a person,
The movement of the person is represented by a parameter group P including three parameters (a parameter specifying the swing of the arm, a parameter specifying the movement of the foot, and a parameter specifying the amount of movement in the lateral direction). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the operator uses the keyboard 1 along one timeline T to obtain the values P ₀ , P ₁ and P ₀ of the parameter group P at the time points t ₀ , t _1, and t ₂ . setting the P ₂ in the memory 4. Thereafter, the CPU 3 generates the value of the parameter group P between the time points t ₀ and t ₁ and between the time points t ₁ and t ₂ by interpolation calculation in frame units. Thus, for example, at time t _X
The value of the parameter group P _X at (t ₀ <t _X <t ₁ ) is an intermediate value between P ₀ and P ₁ . When the value P _0, P ₁ and the display screen 6 form character 7 of each operator has specified the image display device 5 in response to the P _{2 0} parameter group P, 7 _1, 7 ₂ is displayed , the display shape 7 ₀ characters from time t ₀ toward t ₁ is on the screen 6 is changed gradually into the shape _71, so that the shape ₇₁ of the character toward t ₂ from time t ₁ is changed gradually in the shape 7 ₂ Become.

[0005]

However, as described above, conventionally, at the time points t ₀ , t ₁ , and t ₂ selected by the operator along one time line T, the parameter for specifying the swing of the arm and the foot The operator must set the value of the parameter specifying the movement of the object and the value of the parameter specifying the amount of movement in the horizontal direction at the same time. In this case, the interval between the points at which the operator sets the parameters along the timeline T must be narrowed, and the values of all the parameters must be reset at each of those points. There was an inconvenience that only the efficiency of correction was bad.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to easily correct only a part of the movement of a character, thereby improving the animation creation efficiency.

[0007]

According to the animation creating method of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, a plurality of parameters
Time axis T1 to T3
The first step and the time axis T1, T2, T3
Along a plurality of points in time t10 to t
1, the second switch for selecting t20 to t26 and t30 to t34
Step and that of these multiple parameters Q, R, S
For each, follow the time axis assigned to the parameter.
Third step of setting values at a plurality of points in time
And the set values of these parameters Q, R, and S
These multiple parameters in a given time unit based on
The values of data Q, R, and S are generated by interpolation.
A fourth step, and these multiples in this predetermined time unit.
Performing calculations using the values of numerical parameters Q, R, and S
Determines the movement of the character in this predetermined time unit.
And a fifth step of setting . In addition,
The animation creation device according to Akira is, for example, shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG.
Parameters Q, R, and S, among a plurality of time axes T1 to T3
, Respectively, and each time axis T1, T
2, a plurality of points in time t at independent intervals along T3
10 to t1, t20 to t26, t30 to t34
Input means 1 for inputting a plurality of parameters Q,
For each of R and S, assign to the parameter
Values at multiple points along the time axis
Input means 1 and a plurality of these set parameters
Based on the values of Q, R, and S, these
Of the multiple parameters Q, R, and S by interpolation
Each of the interpolation processing means 3 for generating the predetermined time unit
Using the values of these multiple parameters Q, R, S
By performing the calculation with
Computing means 3 for determining the movement of the tractor.
You.

According to the present invention, the number of time axes (time lines) for which the values of the plurality of parameters Q, R, and S are set by the operator is the number of sets of parameters having a common time axis. Then, when correcting a certain part of the movement of the character, the operator re-selects a plurality of time intervals along the time axis of a set to which a parameter specifying the certain part belongs ( For example, the intervals between the plurality of points in time are made narrower than the intervals between the plurality of points along the time axis other than the time axis), and the values of the parameters corresponding to the plurality of points need only be reset. Therefore, it is not necessary to reset parameters belonging to a group other than the group to which the parameter specifying a certain part of the motion belongs, so that the correction can be performed easily. Further, the degree of freedom in creating an animation can be increased.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an example of the onset bright, FIG. 1
4 will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, the present invention is applied to the creation of an animation for causing a person as a character to perform a predetermined movement. The parameter for specifying the movement of the person is a parameter (arm parameter) Q for specifying the swing of the arm. , A parameter (foot parameter) R for specifying the movement of the foot and a parameter (movement parameter) S for specifying the amount of movement in the lateral direction.

In this example, these three parameters Q, R,
S is divided into three sets one by one. In this case, one set
Since only one parameter is assigned, one parameter has the same meaning as a set of parameters. Furthermore,
As shown in FIG. 1, these three parameters Q, R, S
Are assigned time axes (time lines) T ₁ , T ₂ and T ₃ , respectively. The animation creation apparatus that executes this example is the same as the example in FIG.
A storage area of, as shown in FIG. 2, the region 8 for storing data of a basic shape of the character (hereinafter referred to as "Shape"), the parameter Q along the time line T ₁
Dividing the value area 9A for storing a frame basis, a region 9C for storing the value of the parameter S along the region 9B and timeline T ₃ stores the value of the parameter R along the timeline T ₂ in frame units by frame basis I do. Each of these areas 9A to 9C has a timeline T
It adds a flag indicating that a ₁ through T _3.

In this example, three basic shapes (shapes) of a person as a character are prepared for the arm parameter Q (FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C), and three basic shapes (FIG. 4A) for the foot parameter R. , B, C) are prepared. Then, the ratio of the arm parameter Q of three numbers a _{(Q A: Q B: Q} C) as well as expressed by three the number of specific foot parameter _{R (R A: R B:} R
_C ), the movement parameter S expresses horizontal coordinates as values from 0 to 500. In this case, the ratio (Q _A :
Q _B : Q _C ) corresponds to the mixture ratio of the shapes of FIGS. 3A, B and C, and the ratio (R _A : R _B : R _C ) corresponds to the mixture ratio of the shapes of FIGS. 4A, B and C.

Referring to FIG. 1, the procedure for creating the animation of the present embodiment will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 1A, an operator operates a series of time points t ₁₀ to t ₁₀ along a time line T _1.
Select a t _14, these to correspond to the time t ₁₀ ~t ₁₄ sets the arm parameter Q value (the ratio of the three numbers) Q ₀ to Q ₄ in. The value Q ₀ to Q arms parameters Q ₄ are, corresponding to the graphic 10 _{0 -} 10 ₄ showing the movement of the arm. Thereafter, at each time point of the frame unit except the time t ₁₀ ~t ₁₄ along the time line T _1, the value of the arm parameter Q is calculated by the CPU3 interpolation calculation in the example of FIG. 6 in the area 9A of the memory 4 It is memorized. Then, as the operator shown in FIG. 1B, along the time line T ₂ selects a series of time points t ₂₀ ~t _26, the values of these time points t ₂₀ ~t ₂₆ feet parameters in correspondence with R (3 single Number ratio) R _{0 to} R ₆ are set. The value R ₀ to R ₆ of the arm parameter R is graphic 11 ₀ indicating movement of the foot
To 11 corresponding to the _6. After this, the value of the foot parameter R at other points in time line T ₂ is stored is calculated in the region 9B of the memory 4 by interpolation.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Along the time line T ₃ selects a series of time points t ₃₀ ~t _34, sets the value S ₀ to S ₄ of the movement parameter S in correspondence with these time t ₃₀ ~t _34. The value S ₀ of movement parameter S to S ₄ corresponds to the position 12 _{0-12 4} of a person in the display screen 6 of the image display means 5. Further, the value of the movement parameter S at other points in time line T ₃ is stored is calculated in the region 9C of the memory 4 by interpolation.

Finally, the time lines T ₁ , T ₂ and T _{3 of} FIG. 1 are executed simultaneously. That is, the CPU 3 reads three parameters Q, R, and S from the memory 4 of FIG.
Are sequentially read out, and the data of each shape stored in the memory 4 is subjected to an operation in accordance with the values of those parameters, so that the overall shape of the person as a character is determined sequentially in frame units. . The determined overall shape is sequentially displayed on the display screen 6 of the image display means 5.

In this example, if it is desired to speed up only the movement of a person's arm as a character, for example, the operator can use a series of time points t along the time line T ₁ in FIG. 1A.
_10, t ₁₁ ... by narrowing the interval, so that the newly made to correspond to the selected point in time t _10, t ₁₁ ... each of s to reset the value of the arm parameter Q in. However, unlike the conventional example, it is not necessary to reset the parameters R and S in FIGS. 1B and 1C. Similarly, for example, when changing to move from right to left in the display screen 6 the person, the operator need only change the value of the movement parameter S along the time line T ₃ in FIG. 1C. Therefore, according to the present example, there is an advantage that the movement of a part of the person as the character can be quickly and easily corrected, and the animation can be efficiently created.

Next, a generalized procedure for creating the animation in the example of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the number of parameters for
And the number of time lines are m (m ≦ n). First,
In step 100, the operator stores data of a plurality of shapes, which are basic shapes of the character, in the memory 4.
, And assigns _n parameters U _{1 to} Un to m time lines T _{1 to} T _m in step 101. Then, the operator selects a plurality of time points along the timeline T ₁ and sets parameter values corresponding to the selected time points (step 102 ₁ ).
The CPU 3 interpolates the values of the parameters along the time line T ₁ (step 103 ₁ ).

Similarly, from step 102 ₂ to step 1
If the CPU 3 simultaneously executes the time lines T _{1 to} T _m in step 104 after the processing along the time lines T _{2 to} T _m is performed for 03 _m , the animation of the character is displayed on the display screen 6. In step 105, the operator checks whether there is no problem in the movement of the character. Specifically, it is checked whether there is no problem in the movement specified by the parameter belonging to each timeline of the character, and if there is no problem, the creation of the animation is ended.

On the other hand, if there is a problem in the movement of the character corresponding to the timeline T _i (1 ≦ i ≦ m) in step 105, the operator proceeds to step 106.
Then, a plurality of points along the timeline T _i are reselected, and the values of the parameters corresponding to the reselected points are reset. Then, CPU3 is after the interpolation of the value of the parameter along the time line T _i in step 107, the CPU3 again returns to step 104 to execute the time line T ₁ through T _m simultaneously. Steps 104 to 107 until there is no problem in the movement of the character.
Is repeatedly executed.

In the example of FIG. 5 as well, in order to correct a certain part of the movement of the character, it is only necessary to correct the timeline to which the parameter designating the movement belongs. There is.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and it goes without saying that various configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0021]

According to the present invention, it is only necessary to reselect an interval between a plurality of points in time for a certain one of a plurality of sets of parameters and reset the values of the parameters corresponding to the plurality of points. Since the movement of a part of the character can be easily corrected, there is an advantage that the efficiency of creating an animation is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a three timelines in this onset bright example.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data configuration of a memory in the example of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing three shapes for arm parameters in the example of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing three shapes for foot parameters in the example of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a generalized procedure of the animation creating procedure in the example of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional animation creating device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of one conventional time line.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 central processing unit (CPU), 4 memory, 5
An image display device, 6 a display screen, T ₁ through T ₃ Timeline, Q arms parameters R foot parameter,
S movement parameter

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06T 13/00 G06T 15/70

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of parameters for designating the movement of a character ;
Assign one of multiple time axes to the meter
A first step of applying, and a plurality of steps at independent intervals along each of said time axes.
A second step of selecting a point in time, and for each of the plurality of parameters,
Data at the above multiple points along the time axis
A third step of setting values, and a predetermined step based on the set values of the plurality of parameters.
The values of the above parameters in time units are calculated by interpolation.
Using the values of the plurality of parameters in the predetermined time unit.
Calculation by the
Determining a movement of the character . 2. The animation creation method according to claim 1.
In the method, as storage means for storing the values of the plurality of parameters,
Divided into multiple storage areas corresponding to each of the above time axes
Corresponding to each of the storage areas.
The storage means to which the identification code indicating the time axis is added is provided.
In the fourth step, the predetermined time unit generated in the fourth step is used.
Storing the values of the plurality of parameters in the storage means
Corresponds to the time axis assigned to the parameter
And in the fifth step, from the storage area of the storage means.
Reading the values of the plurality of parameters in the predetermined time unit.
An animation creation method characterized by extruding. 3. The animation according to claim 1, wherein
In the method for creating a character, a plurality of types of data of the basic shape of the character are prepared, and in the third step, among the plurality of parameters,
Change the value of the parameter that specifies the movement of the character
Expressed using a basic shape, and in the fifth step, the plurality of parameters
For the parameters that specify the movement of the character,
The basic shape data is stored in the
An animation characterized by performing an operation according to the value of the parameter
Creation method. 4. The aniline according to claim 1, wherein
Determined in the fifth step above in the creation method
Display the entire shape of the character on the display means
The method further includes a sixth step, wherein any one of the above is selected according to a display result in the sixth step.
Re-select the intervals of the above multiple points along the time axis, and
The parameter to which the time axis is assigned among multiple parameters
The values of the meter at the plurality of points are reset and the fourth
Steps 6 to 6 are repeated
Animation creation method. 5. A plurality of parameters for designating a character's movement.
Assign one of multiple time axes to the meter
Along each of the above time axes,
Input means for selecting a plurality of time points at intervals, and, for each of the plurality of parameters,
Data at the above multiple points along the time axis
Input means for setting respective values, and predetermined values based on the set values of the plurality of parameters.
The values of the above parameters in time units are calculated by interpolation.
Using the interpolation processing means respectively generating the plurality of parameter values in the predetermined time unit.
Calculation by the
Computing means for determining the movement of the character
An animation creation device characterized by the following.