Computer Graphics and Animation Research

Video Showcase
Courses and Panels

SIGGRAPH 2008 paper on spline joints for multibody kinematics and dynamics.
Reference | PDF
Demos

Heads Up! SIGGRAPH 2006 paper on the biomechanical modeling and neuromuscular control of the neck.
Reference | PDF
Demos | Neck Muscle Parameter File

SCA paper introducing a decision network framework for the behavioral animation of virtual humans. The first use of Bayesian networks in animation.
Reference | PDF
Demos

SCA paper on Autonomous Pedestrians.
Reference | PDF
Demos
IEEE CG&A Special Issue on "Animating Virtual Humans"

SIGGRAPH paper on TensorTextures (multilinear image-based rendering). Introduced numerical multilinear algebra and tensor algebraic manifold learning methods to CG.
Reference | PDF
Demos

SIGGRAPH paper on the control of dynamic, anthropomorphic characters. Also, first use of support vector machines in CG.
Reference | PDF | .ps.gz | Demos
Computers and Graphics 2001 Best Paper Award winning article on "The Virtual Stuntman".
Reference | PDF | Virtual Stuntman Press Coverage | NBC LA TV News Spot

Article on "Graphics with a Vision" in a Computer Graphics special issue on "Applications of Computer Vision to Computer Graphics".
Reference | PDF | .ps.gz
Demo: Virtual Human with Active Vision | Demo: "Cooking with Kurt"

Communications of the ACM article on "Artificial Life for Computer Graphics". A new paradigm for computer graphics that is teeming with life!
Reference | PDF
Demosaurus Rex

SIGGRAPH paper on the "NeuroAnimator", which uses neural networks to emulate and control physics-based models for fast, realistic animation. First use of neural networks in CG.
Reference | PDF | .ps.gz
Demos (ppt file; open in IE to play linked videos)

SIGGRAPH paper on creating smart characters through "Cognitive Modeling". Pioneered logic-based knowledge representation and reasoning/planning in CG.
Reference | PDF | .ps.gz
Demo: Duffy the Merman in "The Great Escape"

SIGGRAPH paper describing realistic, physics-based models of animals that can learn how to locomote using their muscles, as well as learn some amazing motor skills. Pioneered the use of machine learning in CG.
Reference | PDF | .ps.gz
Demos

SIGGRAPH paper that pioneered the comprehensive biomechanical, perceptual, and behavioral modeling and animation of (piscine) animals.
Reference | PDF | .ps.gz | Demo: "The Undersea World of Jack Cousto" | Demo: "Go Fish!"
An interactive virtual marine world using Synthetic Motion Capture | Reality Theater Demo

TVCG paper demonstrating photorealistic facial expression synthesis.
Reference | PDF

SIGGRAPH paper demonstrating highly automated construction and animation of realistic, physics-based models of human heads from Cyberware scans of individuals.
Reference | PDF | .ps.gz
Demo: "Bureaucrat Too" (excerpt) | Demo: Real-time Biomechanical Facial Simulation (ca. 2000)

Pioneering (ca. 1989) biomechanical model of the human face for computer animation. Incorporates a 3D, layered facial tissue model, embedded muscles of facial expression, and an expressive, FACS muscle controller. This JVCA article also demonstrated an early example of performance-driven facial animation.
Reference | PDF
Demo: Real-time Biomechanical Facial Simulation (ca. 2000)

IEEE Visualization and Computer Graphics paper on dynamic free-form deformations.
Reference | PDF
Demos

SIGGRAPH paper on dynamically deformable solid primitives subject to physics-based constraints.
Reference | PDF | .ps.gz

SIGGRAPH paper introducing "constrained fractals", a free-form shape modeling technique which combines the complementary features of deterministic (variational) splines and stochastic fractals.
Reference | PDF

Journal article on deformable models for computer graphics and animation, presenting a unified account of approaches in the following three papers, plus additional results.
Reference | PDF
Demos

CG&A article on a hybrid formulation of physics-based deformable models with rigid and non-rigid components.
Reference | PDF
"Cooking with Kurt" Animation

SIGGRAPH paper on modeling inelastic deformation. This follow-on work to the paper below introduced viscoelasticity, plasticity, and fracture dynamics to CG.
Reference | PDF
Demos

Academy Award winning SIGGRAPH paper on "Elastically Deformable Models". Pioneered the physics-based modeling/animation paradigm in CG. Recognized by the AMPAS as "a milestone in computer graphics, introducing the concept of physically-based techniques to simulate moving, deforming objects."
Reference | PDF | Demos | "Oscar's New Clothes"

SIGGRAPH 04 course on "Facial Modeling and Animation".

SIGGRAPH 97 course on "Artificial Life for Graphics, Animation, Multimedia, and Virtual Reality".

SIGGRAPH 97 panel on "Facial Animation: Past, Present & Future".

SIGGRAPH 89 panel on "Physically-Based Modeling: Past, Present & Future".

Heads Up! Biomechanical Modeling and Neuromuscular Control of the Neck-Head-Face System
Movies

Autonomous Pedestrians
Movies

The Virtual Stuntman
Movies

TensorTextures
Movies

Duffy the Merman in "The Great Escape"
Movie (91.5MB)

"A National Geo-Graphics Society Special: The Undersea World of Jack Cousto"
Movie (79.1MB) | Reference | Presentations

"Go Fish!"
Movie (52.7MB) | Reference | Presentations | Extract of "Go Fish!"

QuickTime movie including clips from the above animations and more.

Live Footage of the real-time virtual marine world running in a Trimension Reality Theater
Movie (1.3MB)

Learning locomotion
Movies

Real-time biomechanical facial simulation
Movie (30.7MB)
Excerpt from the "Bureaucrat Too" physics-based facial animation
Movie (10.3MB) | Reference

Dynamic free-form deformation models
Movies

"Cooking with Kurt". Pioneering 1987 production combining computer graphics and computer vision to demonstrate image-based modeling and controlled physics-based animation (of garden-variety vegetables :).
Movie (17.2MB) | Reference

Pioneering physics-based cloth animations ca. 1987-88.
Movies