Vicon collaborates with Mainframe Entertainment for animated movie

Vicon, a leading developer of motion capture systems and part of Oxford Metrics Group, has announced the use of a Vicon MX40 motion capture system by Mainframe Entertainment for the 70-minute animated movie 'Tony Hawk in Boom Boom Sabotage'.
Vicon MX motion capture offered the extreme accuracy and real-time performance required to record the signature performances of skateboard legend Tony Hawk and a supporting cast of skaters to bring true-to-form performances to their counterparts in the all-CGI film.
Ninety five percent of the animation for the completely CGI project, which sees a town turned upside down by Hawk’s HuckJam tour, was recorded via motion capture. Mainframe captured more than 15,000 skateboard tricks between a shoot on location with Tony Hawk in San Diego, and a session with pro street riders on its own Vicon motion capture stage in Vancouver.
Ben Burden Smith, Producer and Co-Writer at Mainframe Entertainment commented: "Motion capture has become so production friendly and supportive of the creative process. The speed and accuracy has been growing by leaps and bounds and Vicon’s R&D leadership is bringing about benefits for everyone, not just the larger players."
Motion capture markers of reflective tape were placed on each skater’s board so that the Vicon cameras were able to record rotational data about how the boards were flipping, spinning or even being held in the skateboarders’ hands. An array of ramps up to 13 feet high and other props provided the athletes with familiar action turf.
Motion capture was also recorded for numerous other characters in the movie, such as circus 'carnies' whose local fame is displaced by the arrival of the HuckJam tour.
(DS/SP)