• Cartoon and Animation Studies
• /
• s.49
• /
• pp.247-265
• /
• 2017

With the increasingly diverse, sophisticated and complex character animations that can be represented in 3D animations, the importance of rigging, which can most directly affect animating quality, is becoming more and more important. In addition, rapidity is another crucial aspect of 3D animation production. So, the importance of technical director's role which is accurate and rapid handling of rigging pipeline building and immediate application and, corrections of errors during the longest and manpower consuming animation production is more becoming key. Baek Ji Won and Kim Jae-woong (2014) said, "The technical director is adding new importance to the new job, which is created by 3D animation, in conjunction with the limited production period, manpower, budget and production process." Most major overseas studios are developing in-house software to handle rigging and animation processes. Software development code is used to freely develop and modify production pipelines in accordance with the direction of the work. They are making efforts to build an optimal environment for animators. However, too many efforts and ineffective efforts have been made to develop, adapt, and stabilize the rigging process for small producers, creators, and students who do not have the capacity to develop their own in-house software or hire a technical director. This study suggests the most suitable auto-rigging tool among the many auto-rigging tools released in the market, and suggests the most accurate and quick auto-rigging process setting method for those who have insufficient knowledge about 3D character rigging. The efficiency of use of auto-rigging tool was examined.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
• /
• s.37
• /
• pp.491-508
• /
• 2014

As number of making 3D feature animation films is increasing, 3D production pipeline become more complicated and more artists are needed than before. Major studios in foreign countries, in burden of producing high quality films with limited amount of budget and time, have been handling such difficulties by hiring technical directors in each department such as animation, rigging, cloth hair, and effect. Technical director is new occupation which appears after trend of producing animation is changed from 2D to 3D. Importance of technical director is increasing in respect to studios' needs which are related to complication in production time, manpower, budget, and production pipeline. This research is based on the researcher's work experience as an animation TD at Walt Diseny Animation Studio and Sony Pictures Imageworks, interview with working professionals, and related books and thesis. It focuses on the role of animation technical director in Disney's 3D feature animation film from two perspectives, 'Designing Production Pipeline' and 'Analyzing Problem of Shot'. Animation technical directors design and test production pipeline so that they can detect and solve problems that may arise in production process as early as possible. They not only analyze numerous problems of characters or shots limited to animation department but also in other departments such as modeling, mapping, character rigging, cloth, hair, lighting, rendering, software development in order to support artists to complete their shots according to the production schedule. In accordance with recent trend of increasing number of 3D feature animation film production in South Korea and collaboration with foreign studios outside of South Korea, it is vital to train animation technical directors who can develop production pipeline, analyze various problems of shots and characters to escalate efficiency in production.