Real-time 3D Character Animation with Visual C++

12	Motion capture techniques

The early pioneers of animation spent a lot of time studying motion. Some chose to film the actors performing the motions that they were intending to animate. In this way, the complexity of the actions could be analysed frame by frame. Some animators went even further and simply traced this motion directly onto their animation paper. This technique, known as roto-scoping, was the basis of the animation of both Snow White and Prince Charming in the legendary Disney film.

Roto-scoping has a digital equivalent, motion capture or mocap for short. Many animation purists dislike roto-scoping and for largely the same reason they also dislike mocap. The reasoning behind their prejudice is that a very well drawn animation ...