Here's

another head control video test, this time using a pre-existing Mouse character that someone else created for Blender. In the video first you'll see some individual actions and then how those actions can be mixed to create different kinds of expressions and movements.

I haven't played with body control because I have to pick up a second joystick for that this weekend, but this is at a point now where if someone has a 3D character there's no reason it can't be performed in real-time.

I am taking about a week off from this project to get ready for some workshops I am doing next week, but the next step is to program a way to automate much of the process of setting characters up in Blender so you don't need to know much about Blender's animation system and anyone can do this (right now I set-up everything manually in Blender).

Once that is done the next step is to code a feature so that performances can be recorded and it's possible to take real-time stuff that looks like this:



And render it out to look like this:



I am very happy with this so far. It ain't Pixar, but it ain't too bad either.

Thanks so much to everyone here for their interest and support. With a little luck I'll have a beta version of Panda Puppet ready to release before summer.

I haven't played with body control because I have to pick up a second joystick for that this weekend, but this is at a point now where if someone has a 3D character there's no reason it can't be performed in real-time.

Wow... that's a very impressive accomplishment, Andrew!



Ron G.

Once again another impressive step in the digital puppetry!  I love when the ears drop, just a great character feature!

Daryl H.

Nice job Andrew.
Now we can really respect the time consumption it take someone creating those cartoon at Pixar.
Enjoy your workshop and we will all be waiting for more on your digital puppet.

You mentioned a Joystick controller, can I suggest Saitek controllers. The X series of controllers have a two hand flight simulator joystick that can be programmed to any assignment you need. Budgetwise, the x52 is pricey. You might want to check ebay for a x45, a older model, but quite precise.

http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/pcgc.asp

Great Job Andrew, Your project seems to be moving right along. It looks like you are going to get done. As for a Pixar quality.Andrew quality has been proven very effective up to this point. Everyonr has always been pleased with your accomplishments.

Thanks for keeping us updated..............

Billy

So Andrew, are you going to need beta testers for this system.  

It looks great.  I love it and can't wait to see the final product.

Thanks for the joystick recommendations Sonny. The Saitek joysticks are really nice and I actually wanted to pick up a Cyborg Evo, but the problem I have is that here in Mexico electronics made overseas cost twice as much as they do in the U.S. because of import taxes. What seems to happen is that a $30 joystick ends up costing $50-$70. Same thing for Nintendo's Wiimote; I have seen it sold for $38 in Texas, but here it sells for about $70.

I picked up an Acteck Xtreme Pilot - very similar to Saitek's Evo Force joystick - that is made locally (Acteck is a Mexican company) for just 200 pesos (under $20) and it's fantastic. Next time I am in Canada or stateside with a little cash I will probably grab one or two Saitek sticks and I'm dying to use this with Nintendo's Wiimote and Nunchuk.

Eventually, I'd like to custom build a joystick better suited to puppetry and maybe a Waldo too, but for now I am trying to make sure this works first with off-the-shelf hardware.

I will be looking for beta testers, but it's not really ready for that yet. Everything is manual at this point. This is all programmed using something called logic bricks in Blender and right now to use it requires knowledge of Blender's animation system, game engine and a little Python programming. The real magic of Panda Puppet is that it's going to automate the whole process of rigging and programming characters, but I am just starting to work on those functions.

There's no real magic or nothing completely new about what I've done so far. In fact, if anyone wants to try it themselves just download Blender from http://www.blender.org and then the documentation to read/use is:

- Blender: Introduction to Character Animation
- Blender: Introduction to the Game Engine
- "Oto The Cleaner" Blender Game Engine Tutorial
- Python Scripting Basics For Blender Game Engine

After all that, it's just trial and error. Well, it's a lot of trial and error.

Hey, this got some notice on Keith Lango's blog. I thought that was especially neat because I have been going through a lot of the animation tutorials on his site lately.

For those that don't know him, Keith is a really well-respected animator who's worked on Ant Bully and Veggietales, among other things.

Andrew,

That's a great write-up, along with some interesting comments by other readers. It must be gratifying having your work discovered like that.

Good going!



Ron G.

Andrew,

Absolutely amazing work mate - well done.  I'm a software developer (basic applications) by profession so I know the technical knowlege required to put something like this together - it's fantastic.

Since 1977, I 've been a huge fan of the german electronic band Kraftwerk and a few years ago, they produced a track called Musique Non Stop - here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDde1es7aoU

I've always wondered how the heads of the band artists were digitised and I think you've now shown me. I have no idea if the video artist used Blender though, what do you reckon?

The live version is even better - sorry if this is a bit off topic but it's really clever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15dS6RhCcK8

Keep up the good work Andrew - you're amazing.

Carl

sorry if this is a bit off topic but it's really clever:

I don't think it is off topic at all.    Hey there is even some black light work in the live show!  I think it really shows how the skills you may develop as a puppeteer can be applied in other fields.  In order to manipulate a puppet you have to know how things move.  Seeing the faces and body in wire-frame animation really breaks it down. Before the computer a puppet builder might have drawn on paper their designs and worked out how the movement would happen.  Now with computers you can do the same thing.  Even if you are going to move to a "real" puppet you could design them in an animation program first and the translate that to the real world.  Remember the computer program that could take a wire-frame and turn it into a flat pattern?    Now where was that thread.... I know it is around here some place.

[Video Removed By YouTube]

That was great Carl! It made me think of Dire Straits' classic video for Money for Nothing...

Video Removed By YouTube

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_for_Nothing_(song)

Since 1977, I 've been a huge fan of the german electronic band Kraftwerk and a few years ago, they produced a track called Musique Non Stop - here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDde1es7aoU

This really is off topic, but I remember when Kraftwerk's album Trans-Europe Express came out in 1977, my last year of high school, and we used to listen to it in art class while we drew and painted. (Art teachers are cool that way.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or0tMhbIOUM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Europe_Express_(album)


A few years later I found myself living in southern France, and had just attended a conference in another town and my roommate and I had to catch the next train back to where we were living. When we gave them our return tickets they made us pay additional money because the train was all first class seating, and we just had regular tickets. That's when I noticed the name on the side of the train and I said to my companion, "Hey - this is the Trans-Europe Express!" His only reply was, "Yeah, so?"

I guess that being a professional violist, he was more of a classical music fan.

 

Ron G.

PS
Hey, while we're talking about German groups from back then, maybe I should link to 99 Luftballons...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9whehyybLqU

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99_Luftballons

Yes Shawn I did notice Kraftwerk's blacklight performance - their suits really showed up well.

Rong G. Trans-Europe Express was the first track I listened to back in '77 and it's probably my favourite electronic track of all time - so pioneering for its day.  Amazing to hear that you actually rode on the TEE (Trans-Europe Express) in France!

Carl

Ron G. Trans-Europe Express was the first track I listened to back in '77 and it's probably my favourite electronic track of all time - so pioneering for its day.  Amazing to hear that you actually rode on the TEE (Trans-Europe Express) in France!

Heh... I've been waiting 25 years to tell that story to someone who would know what the heck I was talking about.

The world is full of French violists who say, "Yeah, so?"

 

Ron G.

I am still plugging away at Panda Puppet...a very fast, brand new top-of-the-line desktop computer was recently (and very kindly) donated to the project which has made working on it much easier and more productive. I hope to have a public beta version ready sometime this fall.

Here's my latest experiment:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?SVpKAXmQ_EU" target="youtube">YouTube Video</a>

The way this works is that the jaw is controlled by a joystick in real-time. Only took a few minutes to set-up too!