Puppeteering 2.5D Models

Abstract

A laborious task for animators is the redrawing of 2D models for each new required view or pose. As a consequence, several applications have been proposed to make this task easier. A successful approach is the Cartoon 2.5D Models. Its goal is the automatic computation of new views - by the simulation of 3D global rotation - from user-provided 2D models. However, previous work of 2.5D Models does not have support to calculate new poses efficiently, i.e., the user redraws the input views again in the new pose. We present a novel approach that allows the user to produce both new views and new poses easily for the 2.5D Models, thus puppeteering the 2.5D Models. It makes use of a hierarchical bone structure that explores the methodology of the 2.5D Models, ensuring coherence between the bone structure and the model. The usability of the present approach is intuitive for users acquainted with previous 2.5D Modeling tools.